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By Kathleen O'Connor
Today an article appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about one of our clients, Alex Merritt, who was harassed by two of his teachers based on his perceived sexual orientation. Alex’s name is being made public upon his express request. It is the policy of this office to keep the identity of our clients strictly confidential unless the client consents to the disclosure of his or her identity, as in Alex’s case.
It should be noted that Alex, who is not homosexual, courageously brought an action against the school district to account for the consequences of the egregious actions of the teachers. Alex paid the price for his courage when his fellow students ostracized and retaliated against him for reporting the teacher’s harassment to the school district. The district failed to address this retaliation and ostracization, forcing Alex and his family to move out of the community where Alex had lived his entire life.
Alex, his mother Jodi and his family are to be commended for standing up to the district and holding it accountable not only for its inadequate response to the harassment of Alex, but also in protecting future students against harassment based on perceived or actual sexual orientation. As part of the settlement agreement , the school district agreed to have the Minnesota Department of Human Rights review and approve its policies addressing the district’s obligations under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and to submit training materials related to student harassment, its complaint process, and sexual orientation as a protected class.
It is our hope that Alex’s courage in standing up will help others who are suffering in silence and shame to come forward, speak out and not tolerate sexual harassment in our schools. Schools should be a place for children to learn and to feel safe and secure and free from harassment, particularly from those who are doing the teaching.
For more details about the harassment that Alex endured, visit www.humanrights.state.mn.us and click on “Case of the Month”.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Jeff Anderson and Associates applaud the courage of Alex Merritt
Jeff Anderson and Associates applaud the courage of Alex Merritt and his family for standing up and speaking out on behalf of kids bullied because they may be different.
We represented young Alex who was bullied while in school by the teachers because some may have thought he was gay when in fact he was very straight. He also knew that what had happened to him was wrong and he didn’t want that to happen to others so he came to us. With the help of The Human Rights Department and his mother Jodi and through the Human Rights Department received a measure of justice and validation. Part of the story appears in the Star Tribune today. Kathleen O’Connor was the lead attorney on this case and happy to comment on this and there is more to the story. Kudos to Alex, Jodi and his family for finding their voice, speaking up and making a difference.
http://www.startribune.com/local/north/53083997.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
We represented young Alex who was bullied while in school by the teachers because some may have thought he was gay when in fact he was very straight. He also knew that what had happened to him was wrong and he didn’t want that to happen to others so he came to us. With the help of The Human Rights Department and his mother Jodi and through the Human Rights Department received a measure of justice and validation. Part of the story appears in the Star Tribune today. Kathleen O’Connor was the lead attorney on this case and happy to comment on this and there is more to the story. Kudos to Alex, Jodi and his family for finding their voice, speaking up and making a difference.
http://www.startribune.com/local/north/53083997.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
Deaf Abuse Survivor Sues
By Mike Finnegan
Today a deaf man who was raped as a child by a serial perpetrator in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is taking action. I applaud his courage and commitment to making sure that this doesn’t happen to other children. He can’t undue what happened to him as a child but his action today ensures that children will be safer. He is also reaching out to other survivors who are suffering in silence and shame.
Dean Weissmuller was a deaf child at St. John’s School for Deaf in Milwaukee when he met Fr. Lawrence Murphy. Murphy was the director of the school and a larger than life presence at the school. Dean was only a 9-12 year old child at the time. Murphy sexually abused Dean on numerous occasions at the school.
Documents recently uncovered from the Archdiocese show that Dean was not alone. A psychological professional did a three day evaluation of Murphy. In that evaluation there is an estimate that Murphy sexually molested at least 200 deaf children. My heart goes out to these survivors. These children were already silenced by their disability and then silenced even more through the horrendous acts of sexual abuse. These children were among the most vulnerable in our society. Children that already lacked a voice and had difficulty communicating were further silenced.
All of this begs the question - Could all of this abuse been prevented?
Shockingly, newly uncovered documents reveal that the answer is YES it could have been prevented. Secret documents show that in the late 1950’s a priest reported to the Archbishop that Murphy was molesting children at the school for the deaf. The Archdiocese left Murphy there for almost two decades after this report and countless deaf children were sexually abused by Murphy. More information about Murphy and some of these secret documents can be found on http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Murphy_Lawrence_C.htm. There is also information about Murphy and other cases available on http://www.andersonadvocates.com/
Today a deaf man who was raped as a child by a serial perpetrator in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is taking action. I applaud his courage and commitment to making sure that this doesn’t happen to other children. He can’t undue what happened to him as a child but his action today ensures that children will be safer. He is also reaching out to other survivors who are suffering in silence and shame.
Dean Weissmuller was a deaf child at St. John’s School for Deaf in Milwaukee when he met Fr. Lawrence Murphy. Murphy was the director of the school and a larger than life presence at the school. Dean was only a 9-12 year old child at the time. Murphy sexually abused Dean on numerous occasions at the school.
Documents recently uncovered from the Archdiocese show that Dean was not alone. A psychological professional did a three day evaluation of Murphy. In that evaluation there is an estimate that Murphy sexually molested at least 200 deaf children. My heart goes out to these survivors. These children were already silenced by their disability and then silenced even more through the horrendous acts of sexual abuse. These children were among the most vulnerable in our society. Children that already lacked a voice and had difficulty communicating were further silenced.
All of this begs the question - Could all of this abuse been prevented?
Shockingly, newly uncovered documents reveal that the answer is YES it could have been prevented. Secret documents show that in the late 1950’s a priest reported to the Archbishop that Murphy was molesting children at the school for the deaf. The Archdiocese left Murphy there for almost two decades after this report and countless deaf children were sexually abused by Murphy. More information about Murphy and some of these secret documents can be found on http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Murphy_Lawrence_C.htm. There is also information about Murphy and other cases available on http://www.andersonadvocates.com/
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