17-year-old Student Physically Attacked Over Online Statements Supporting Police

Source: Family photo
Source: Family photo
Source: Family photo

Across the nation, many are taking a hardline stance on the Black Lives Matter movement. One youngster, 17-year-old Brian Ogle from Alabama, decided to voice his opinion as well. Ogle took to Facebook, where he posted pro-police content.

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Ogle began receiving threatening messages from classmates. When he took the messages to his high school principal, he was told there was nothing she could do.

“My son took it to the principal at Sylacauga High School and I commend him for that. He showed her the threats that were being made to him, but she told him there was nothing she could do. I’m appalled,” said Bradi Allen, Ogle’s mother.

According to Sylacauga City Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Freeman, the school was made aware of social media threats and was placed on lockdown on Wednesday.

But Ogle was attacked in a parking lot Friday night following the high school homecoming football game, where he was bashed in the head by a pistol.

“They (the school administration) have a job to do it at school and they failed to do it,” Allen said.

Brian’s mother believes his pro-police Facebook content motivated what she calls a “hate crime.”

“Instead of us planning for his 18th birthday, we’re here. Why? Because he made a statement that he backs the blue? I’m still trying to understand how someone, no matter the color of their skin, can do this to another human being,” said Allen. “I want to see them in jail, this most certainly is a race issue, it’s a hate crime.”

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The Sylacauga Chief of Police, Kelley Johnson, took to the Department’s Facebook page to address the matter:


 Parents have been urged to report credible threats to local law enforcement.

“I want to see them handcuffed. I want to see them put in jail. I don’t wish any harm on anyone’s child. I would like for them to have to look at my child right now. I don’t want any other mother to have to go through what I went through these past few days,“ Allen said.

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