Teen charged with assault after allegedly pulling Muslim student's hijab off during fight

A high school student allegedly tried to pull a Muslim student’s hijab off during a fight captured on video at East Brunswick High School in New Jersey.

The teen was charged with simple assault, harassment cyber harassment and disorderly conduct, according to a press release from the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office.

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The fight started over a seat in the school’s common area on Wednesday and “quickly escalated into an exchange of words and a physical altercation,” East Brunswick schools superintendent Dr. Victor Valeski explained in a letter to the community.

Witnesses told New York broadcast station WABC that the teen spit and tried to pull off the Muslim girl’s hijab. Valeski wrote that the school determined it to be a “bias incident” and immediately reported it to the police.

“The District does not tolerate any incidents of bias, discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying and takes swift action if such an event occurs,” Valeski’s letter said. “I want to ensure the East Brunswick Community that we have been, and will continue to be, deeply committed to promoting and maintaining a safe environment for all of our students and staff.”

The female student, who wasn’t identified by the prosecutor’s office because she’s under 18, has not been charged with a hate crime. But the prosecutor’s office is still investigating the incident, along with the East Brunswick Police Department.

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