Because bullying is a serious, growing crime in New Jersey and across the country. Cyberbullying (victimization through social media, text messages, and e-mails) is particularly alarming, and all bullying can have dire consequences.
• In 2011, Consumer Reports reported that 1 million children were harassed or threatened on Facebook during the previous year.
• According to the a December 2011 report by the N.J. Commission on Bullying in Schools, more than 160,000 students nationwide avoid school each day due to fear of being bullied (www.njbullying.org).
• According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Center, almost 30% of American youth (more than 5.7 million youngsters) are involved in bullying as a bully, a target of bullying, or both.
• According to research at Yale University, bully victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims.
• A British study found that at least half of suicides among youngsters are bullying-related.
The Walk2Stop Bullying will bring community members together to raise awareness of the resources available to help stop bullying and cyber-bullying, which has been a focus of Kidsbridge for many years, but was thrust into the spotlight following the disturbing Tyler Clementi incident at Rutgers. The day features a two-mile family walk, kids’ activities and an open house in the Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum.
For more information on the June 3rd Walk2Stop Bullying event, held on the campus of The College of New Jersey, download our flyer here.
