Parkers allege son assaulted

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Parkers allege son assaulted

By Bethan L. Jones, Lexington Minuteman (Lexington, Massachusetts), June 15, 2006

A press release was issued by MassResistance, formerly Article 8 Alliance, on Wednesday alleging Jacob Parker, the first-grade son of David and Tonia Parker, was assaulted on the playground at the Estabrook Elementary School on May 17, the two-year anniversary of gay marriage in Massachusetts.

The Parkers are currently suing the Lexington Public Schools for violating their rights because LPS refused to notify parents when homosexuality will be discussed in the classroom. David Parker was arrested at the Estabrook Elementary School in April 2005 after refusing to leave a meeting with Estabrook Principal Joni Jay and then-Director of Curriculum Andre Ravenelle. At that meeting, he requested notification when any topic around sexual orientation would be discussed in his son's classroom.

In the release, Brian Camenker, of MassResistance, alleged Jacob Parker was approached during recess, taken to a corner of the play area and assaulted by eight to 10 students. The release also stated the schools had investigated and deemed the assault a "planned and premeditated" attack.

"People are shocked," said Camenker. "Nobody ever imagined it could come to this ... especially in a town which prides itself on tolerance."

Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash said he had no knowledge of the alleged incident, but said he and Jay would be looking into the matter. Ash said if a student was aggressively assaulted on school property the event would "trigger a whole series of actions," from notifying parents, staff, the school psychologist and the Department of Social Services, to filing a report with the police. Ash said the schools would also conduct its own investigation into the incident.

According to the Lexington Police Department, no complaint has been filed and they are not currently involved with an investigation into the incident.

Neil Tassel, the Parkers' legal counsel, spoke for the Parker family saying they had hoped to keep the incident private. Due to the age of the students involved, they had opted not to go to the police.

"It was a regrettable incident ... but no one was seriously hurt," said Tassel, adding Jacob Parker was "shaken up" by the incident.

Tassel said Jacob has been continuing to attend school at Estabrook for the past month and the Parkers are working with the school to address any additional concerns.

Camenker's press release, however, does include a statement from David Parker stating his concern for his son's safety in light of the alleged "premeditated" nature of the incident and questioning whether the schools would respond the same way if the child assaulted had same-sex parents.

Ash said the school policy of response to such instances of violence and bullying is standard for all schools and students.

Camenker said Parker did some "soul searching" before finally coming forward to publicly report the incident adding an "average person ... would be too afraid." He added anyone alleging the Parkers were using their son for publicity were wrong and the situation is "the exact opposite."

"It really scares people this could happen," he said. "Lexington will be looked at with a much closer eye."

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