Teen Charged with Felony Hate Crimes

A 13-year-old boy is now facing felony charges, including a hate crime, after allegedly sending racist messages through social media. This incident involved two mothers, Kisha Jenkins and Kiara Shaw, who reported that their sons, also 13, received derogatory comments on Snapchat.

According to the mothers, the messages not only contained racial slurs but also included their children’s photos. One message, as described by Shaw, was particularly troubling: “He called him a monkey, said he was going to do some nasty things to him, said he was going to sell him on Facebook.”

The police in Oswego, Illinois, stated that the juvenile in question is facing several charges due to the nature of the messages. “Hate, discrimination, racism, and the threats made in that message should never be tolerated. You have to stand for something,” Shaw emphasized.

Both mothers took action by reporting the messages to the school and law enforcement. Jenkins expressed concern about how her son was affected, stating that he was very upset and felt threatened by the messages he received.

In response to the situation, the superintendent of Oswego School District 308, Dr. Andalib Khelghati, reached out to families, highlighting the need for dialogue about the impact of online interactions. He remarked, “A post can take seconds to share and a lifetime to repair.” He urged parents to discuss with their children the importance of their online behavior and to encourage them to speak up if they witness bullying or discrimination.

Interestingly, Jenkins mentioned that she also felt sympathy for the family of the child who sent the messages. “I don’t feel good about either side of this situation,” she said, acknowledging the heartbreaking nature of what all families involved are experiencing.

Authorities confirmed that the boy appeared in court on Friday, but further details about the proceedings have not been disclosed.