Bullying leads to tragedy as Kelaia Turner attempts suicide after severe harassment

In Greenville County, South Carolina, Kelaia Turner, a 12-year-old girl, was subjected to relentless bullying at Dr. Phinnize J Fisher Middle School. The bullying began when Kelaia embraced her natural hair, and the harassment included verbal and physical assaults from classmates. Despite her mother's efforts to report the incidents to school officials, including her teacher Olivia Bennett who failed to intervene, no effective action was taken to alleviate the situation.Kelaia, feeling hopeless, confided to a friend about her suicidal thoughts in early March 2023. Tragically, on March 16, 2023, she attempted to take her own life by hanging herself at home, resulting in severe brain damage after being without a pulse for eight minutes. Despite the efforts of first responders, Kelaia was left reliant on medical support, relying on a tracheostomy and feeding tube. Her mother, Ty Turner, has since filed a federal lawsuit against the school district, claiming negligence and ignorance on the part of school officials regarding Kelaia's ongoing suffering.As the community grapples with this heartbreaking event, the spokesperson for Greenville County Schools acknowledged the allegations and stated that steps are being taken to address the situations of bullying effectively. However, many parents and advocates are questioning the adequacy of the school's response to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.