Friday, April 19, 2013

Glorifying violence? We inch closer to "A Clockwork Orange"


VIDEO: Female Students Kicked, Punched, Bloodied & Bruised In Wild Queens Melee

Samatha Gonzalez (L) and Christina Campos (R) were both victims in a large fight that broke out at Astoria Park. (credit: CBS 2)
Samatha Gonzalez (L) and Christina Campos (R) were both victims in a large fight that broke out at Astoria Park. (credit: CBS 2)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)
 — Two eighth grade students are now recovering from a terrifying attack in Queens.
The girls were jumped by a mob of high school students in Astoria and the fight was all caught on video.
Cellphone cameras were rolling as a wild mob scene broke out in Astoria Park on Friday.
Stuck in the middle was 14-year-old Samatha Gonzalez, seen on the video in a black and white striped shirt.
The honor student said she was badly beaten while trying to defend her friend Christina Campos, who was getting punched and kicked by more than a dozen high school students.
“About seven to 10 girls just started grabbing me and held my hands and just started kicking me in the face,” Gonzalez told CBS 2′s Hazel Sanchez. “They threw cones at me. They hit us with belt buckles, with Timberlands, umbrellas, guys kicking us — like guys, really?”
Video stills of the fight. (credit: cell phone video)
Video stills of the fight. (credit: cell phone video)
The attackers could be seen stomping on Christina Campos’ body and head.
Campos said the same group of high school-aged girls jumped her the day before and warned her they’d be back for more. This time boys were throwing punches, too. Campos’ face was bloodied and bruised.
“They came out of nowhere with so many people,” Campos said.
“I was scared. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me. Was I going to live after this or was I going to be beat to death?” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez was left with two black eyes and a broken nose. She said no bystanders stepped in to help her or her friends. Most, she said, just watched or recorded the brawl.
The fight was posted on a popular website known for glorifying violence. Gonzalez’s mother said she is sickened by what happened.
“I was furious because these kids did this to my daughter,” Nina Kunicki said. “Those websites need to be shut down because it is feeding violence towards children.”
Because of the attack, the victims families said they plan to start an anti-bullying campaign in Astoria.
Police said they are actively looking for the students seen on the video. The victims were able to identify some of their attackers.
No arrests were made
.

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