"Kick a Ginger" Middle School Beating Inspired by South Park?
Authorities say a 12-year-old boy was assaulted by a group of middle school classmates in Calabasas who may have targeted him after an Internet posting urged students to beat up redheads.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Richard Erickson says the boy, who has red hair and freckles, was kicked and hit in two incidents Friday at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas. As many as 14 students participated in the attacks.
The boy and police say he may have been a victim of "kick a ginger day," an internet spoof inspired by the cartoon "South Park."
Erickson says the attackers may have been motivated by a Facebook message announcing that Friday was "Kick a Ginger Day." The posting may have been inspired by a 2005 episode of the television show "South Park," which uses the term "ginger" to satirize racial intolerance.
The boy was not seriously injured, but the students in Friday's attack may face charges.
Similiar attacks have been reported in British Columbia. Officials say they do not know of any other local attacks on redheads.
No arrests have been made.