Four teenagers face multiple charges in the alleged racially motivated attack on a SEPTA train in Philadelphia this week, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The four teen girls range in age from 13-16 and have been charged with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and disorderly conduct.
Video shows a group of teens beating a girl on the train who had intervened to prevent the bullying of a group of younger Asian American boys.
One of the parents of the girls came forward to the police to identify her daughter.
“My daughter and her group were the full aggressors,” she said to NBC Philadelphia. “If the Asian children did anything, I would think that it was to protect themselves and that’s just what I got from the video.”
LATEST STORIES
The mother said her daughter had been missing for two weeks and had run away. She plans to speak to the victim’s family.
“I want them to know you all don’t have to be afraid of us,” she said. “My daughter did not mean it. When she gets the opportunity to, she will give a sincere apology.”
The girl who stepped in to stop the attack is being hailed for her courage.
“She was a hero, she stepped up and told the girls to stop,” said SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel III to the Inquirer.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story, or making a contribution.
