Two New Jersey teens were charged with harassment, intimidation, and lewdness after allegedly attacking another teenager at a high school football game in Lawrence Township, 40 miles north of Philadelphia.
A report from the Lawrence Township Police Department revealed that a student was attacked following a high school football game. The attackers urinated on the victim and hurled racial slurs.
“It is alleged that racially derogatory names were being used and that someone urinated on one of the victims while using this language,” the department reported.
The police arrested two 17-year-olds in connection with the attack, both of whom were of Indian descent.
The Lawrence Twp Police Department would like to announce the arrest of 2 juvenile males who reside in Lawrence Twp and who are of Indian descent in connection with the bias incident that took place at Lawrence High School on Friday night. Great work by LTPD Detectives
— Lawrence Twp Police, NJ (@LawrencePD_NJ) October 20, 2019
Lawrence Township Mayor Christopher Bobbitt said he was “deeply disturbed” by the reported attack, calling it a “racial bias crime.”
“As I have said publicly before, hate has no home in Lawrence Township,” Bobbitt wrote. “As someone that has felt its sting, I know that bigotry exists and sadly will continue to exist but that doesn’t mean that I give up.”
Bobbitt also said he’s fearful the attack could lead to retaliatory incidents of violence.
“There have been several comments that as Mayor of Lawrence Township quite honestly disturb me, not only about the incident but also the reaction or potential response to the incident,” Bobbitt wrote. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at length about what happens when Black people feel unheard and I will not stand for any unlawful behavior in reaction to this incident. As the saying goes, ‘two wrongs don’t make a right.’”
Lawrence Township Public Schools Superintendent Ross Kasun claimed the school district “will continue to investigate until all of the facts are uncovered.”
