Brooklyn junior high students kicked out of 9/11 Memorial for allegedly tossing trash into pools

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

File photo of water flowing in a 9/11 Memorial pool during the 10th anniversary ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Some Brooklyn students are accused of tossing garbage into the reflecting pools at the World Trade Center site

/ Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images

(CBS) NEW YORK - Some Brooklyn junior high students were reportedly thrown out of the National September 11 Memorial last Thursday after allegedly tossing garbage into the reflecting pools of the memorial site in lower Manhattan, reports Fox News affiliate WNYW.

The students were on a field trip from East New York, Brooklyn, when they reportedly threw trash such as baseballs and plastic soda bottles in the memorial that commemorates the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001, according to WNYW.

NYPD said one junior high student was caught trying to bring ammunition through the metal detector at the entrance to the memorial site.

"Why the student had the bullets, I don't know," said New York Public Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott. "There is a police investigation and we're talking to the parents."

Walcott told WNYW that the students wouldn't be able to escape punishment just because they are reaching the end of the school term, although he didn't provide further details.

The 9/11 Memorial opened last year for the 10th anniversary of the attacks that brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

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by Transatlantique June 26, 2012 5:29 PM EDT: These children are obviously the product of a families that don't have enough time to teach them ethics.; Reply to this comment


by nohater June 26, 2012 5:25 PM EDT: wonder what their parents are like, what their home life is like?; Reply to this comment


by formerlyluvnut June 26, 2012 5:02 PM EDT: Punks.; Reply to this comment

by txsunshyne June 26, 2012 4:44 PM EDT

They should send them to TEXAS....OUR SLOGAN IS....DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS...if you get caught littering here it's going to cost you at the least $250 and up to $10,000 and 2 yrs in jail. Our death penalty is not the only thing we are serious about!

You can trash the memorial but not the memory, God Bless them all.

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by Transatlantique June 26, 2012 5:25 PM EDT: Texas? :(


by fiddlestickawshucks June 26, 2012 1:37 PM EDT: Every last one of these kids should be made to appear at the scool everyday during the summer from 9am to 3pm and on Saturday and Sunday once school starts to complete 1,000 hours of community service.

If they let these kids off without having them suffer the consquence of their actions; the powers that be should serve the time themselves.

This is what's wrong with young people today.

No matter what crime they commit, they are let off with a slap on the wrist and bailed out by their parents or guardians.

There are seldom any consequences except for their names being put on a juvenile detention record that will be expunged or sealed once they turn 18.

If they are made to perform community service; they may be too busy, too tired or actually learn something as a result.

A banner should be hung in every school that says "If you can't do the time; don't do the crime".!!; Reply to this comment


by twmat311 June 26, 2012 1:17 PM EDT: Yes, talk to the parents, but (since this was a school field trip) also quiz their teachers - seems some history lesson didn't sink in, if it was taught at all. Especially shameful since it's pretty close to being their neighborhood (Brooklyn vs Manhattan); does everything have to happen right on one's front lawn, for it to register?; Reply to this comment

by carlie48 June 26, 2012 1:13 PM EDT

what's their message? we're slobs OR victims should not be shown any respect even at a memorial.

Reply to this comment


by twmat311 June 26, 2012 1:26 PM EDT: I'd say slobs, and on a number of levels. It used to take a few years for loss of respect to surface - now apparently yoou can time it with a stopwatch. As they were jr high age, I'd guess they were born some year(s) prior to 2001 (ok, too young to remember) - but you'd think it would be vivid local history curriculum in NY schools.


by nojoy01 June 26, 2012 1:42 PM EDT: Message? I seriously doubt there was any message. It was probably just a bunch of Junior High School students doing what what they do best. Being thoughtless. We're talking 13-16 year olds here, or maybe 12-15 year olds. Should they be punished? Yes. After all, that's how children learn what is considered acceptable conduct. Should the punishment be draconian? No. Unless you consider making those children memorize ALL of the names of ALL of the victims of that day, and their nation of origin, draconian.