An 11-year-old boy in Chicago is now on life support following an attempted suicide reportedly brought on by constant bullying at his school.
Jamari Dent's mother, Tianna Black, told WGN her son suffers from a learning disability and has been taunted both by his classmates and the administration of Carter G. Woodson Middle School.
Black claims students and staff regularly called her son names like “stupid, dumb and retarded," and maintains the verbal abuse lasted for more than a year. The mother also says she approached Woodson's principal, Tamara Littlejohn, about the issue but had her complaint ignored.
“If they would have nipped this in the bud when I came up [to the school] it wouldn’t have gotten this far,” Black said.
Black says Dent's younger sister found him unresponsive last Monday and called for her help.
“I ran to his room and he was on his knees with a sheet wrapped around his neck. He was gone already,” Black said of the tragic event.
She then performed CPR on her son until the paramedics arrived on the scene. The 11-year-old was rushed to the hospital and remains on life support.
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“My son told me he wished he died a few months ago,” Black told Fox17. “He’s tired of them messing with him.”
Another student's mother claims her complaints about bullying at the school have also fallen on deaf ears.
Chicago Public Schools says these allegations are concerning, and it is now investigating.
"This is a horrible tragedy, and the thoughts and prayers of the Chicago Public Schools community are with Jamari and his loved ones," a Chicago Public Schools spokesperson said. "The allegations that have been made are highly concerning, and the district is conducting a full investigation."
Community activists are demanding action; Ja’Mal Green, a community activist and former Chicago mayoral candidate, hopes to assist the family.
“We conditionally have to get to the point where families have to suffer for something to be done,” Green said. “Jamari is on life support for extensive brain damage because he tried to attempt suicide. Jamari was jumped by several students in a gym room a month ago. [He] was bullied and taunted by teachers as well as students.”
Black met with the principal and district officials on Friday. Following the meeting, Black decided to take her children out of the school.
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