Were South Philly high school attacks racially motivated?

The principal says it’s unclear whether an attack on two Chinese immigrant teenagers at their South Philadelphia high school had racial overtones. A fourteen-year-old boy will be charged in the assault.

The principal says it’s unclear whether an attack on two Chinese immigrant teenagers at their South Philadelphia high school had racial overtones. A fourteen-year-old boy will be charged in the assault.

The two victims, aged 14 and 15, were the only kids attacked at Bok Technical High School on Friday. School principal Larry Melton says he learned that some students had designated it “Freshman Day” and he made a morning announcement that violence would not be tolerated.

Melton says the investigation continues into whether the attacks were racially motivated.

“I’m not saying we’re going to rule that out in this investigation because I want to make sure that everyone understands the open-mindedness of the administration here and we’re going to be looking at all angles.”

Melton has since met with leaders of the Asian community.

A group of African American students attacked about 30 Asian students last year in a string of racially-motivated beatings at South Philadelphia high school.

The incident sparked a week-long boycott by Asian students and a federal human rights complaint.