Nov 18, 2009 10:06 pm US/Pacific
New Twist For Teen Who Has Become Target Of Hate
AMADOR COUNTY, Calif. (CBS13) ―
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Justin Zysman says the anti-Semitic language was etched in his locker for more than a year.
CBS
He found the words "burn Jew burn" won his school locker. And that was just the beginning of problems for the Amador County teen, who is now fighting back.
In September, 2007 Justin Zysman walked into the locker room at Amador High School seeing classmates chuckling. It was no laughing matter.
"And they point to what was etched on my locker and I was like 'oh no way' and I went to my coach and he asked me if I was offended," said Justin.
The words stayed there for a year. The great-grandson of holocaust survivors says he endured taunts, and someone urinating in his locker. Just this month, Justin says he found a swastika carved under his desk.
He took this cell phone picture to prove it. He says he wants things to go back to normal.
"Finding out who did it, and things change, things go to the way they should be," said Justin.
Sutter Creek Police are conducting a criminal investigation, but Justin's civil complaint crusade could guarantee the case goes to court. The suit alleges school staff did nothing to stop the taunting. On Tuesday, one teacher said: "Do you like your football team? You might lose it because of the Justin's lawsuit."
Justin says that only led to more taunting, more confrontations, and yet another twist: Justin was suspended from school Wednesday.
The principal at Amador High School wouldn't go into details, but claims that Justin threatened him. He is now seeking an expulsion hearing for Justin.
Supporters have created the
"Justice for Justin" Facebook page.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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