Gerrard Kaonga
A man who was bullied ‘unbelievably’ decades ago had the courage to stand up and confront one of his alleged perpetrators in public.
A lot of the time people brush bullying under the carpet and pretend it isn’t happening, failing to acknowledge just how serious things can get.
Bullying can be rife in a lot of schools, but one man, from Katy, Texas confronted someone he says bullied him while they were at school together.
A viral video from 2018 saw Greg Barrett speak at a Katy Independent School District school board meeting and detail his experience of being bullied.
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He was determined to challenge superintendent Lance Hindt for his alleged behavior while they were at school together.
Stepping up to the podium he said: “My name is Greg Barrett, I graduated from KSD in 1983. I started in 1975 with Mr Lance.
“My legal name is Greg Gay, I was bullied, unbelievably bullied. I started out and had teachers that bullied me, kids that bullied me, even the coaches.
“I had no one to tell to. One day at lunch I had my head shoved in a urinal, it busted my lip. I had laid on the ground in a fetal position as the kids kicked me.
“Here I am, covered in urine, my lip busted and they sent me home.
“I went home, got the 45 out of my father’s draw and put it in my mouth because at this point I had nobody. Nobody in the school system to help me.
“Lance, you were the one that shoved my head in the urinal. Do you want to debate it because I have witnesses that were there when it happened?”
The incident got national attention however, Lindt did not flat out deny the allegations against him. His closest admission to any guilt saw him say he was 'not perfect'.
Barrett spoke to local news and said that this response was very disappointing.
However, after further accusations of bullying and pressure on the school board, Lindt resigned from his position months later. He argued there was a smear campaign against him.
Reading a prepared statement after resigning he said: "I love Katy, but there is a vicious ugliness in the ruthless attacks that I and others have endured.
"With this smear campaign against me, I cannot fulfill my duties as superintendent."
UNILAD has contacted the Katy School District for comment.