Schoolboys face court in racial taunting : rockymountainnews.com

Three seventh-grade boys in Monument face criminal misdemeanor charges tied to a school fight that allegedly involved racial taunting, a school district official said Thursday.

The incident happened on the morning of March 6 at Creekside Middle School in the Lewis-Palmer School District in northern El Paso County, said district spokeswoman Robin Adair.

A minority youth told school and police officials that other boys put hoods over their heads and taunted him, chanting "KKK," according to news reports. The confrontation lasted a few minutes between classes and resulted in a fight.

The boys were disciplined by the school and currently are permitted to attend classes, Adair said. She said the boys were all of different ethnicities.

A Monument police officer who also works at the school investigated and interviewed students and faculty.

Early this week, police issued criminal summonses to two students for suspected harassment. On Wednesday, police gave a summons to the minority student for alleged misdemeanor assault, Adair said. The boys must appear in court.

Monument police said they are still investigating.

Battling bias

* No Place for Hate, a program to combat bias in Colorado middle schools and high schools, was launched Thursday by the Mountain States Anti-Defamation League. Schools will participate in training and activities that foster tolerance of differences. Schools that complete the yearlong program can earn the designation of a No Place for Hate school. Three local schools have signed up so far.

* To find out more: Go online to regions.ADL.org/mountain- states or call 303-830-7177.