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RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH OF APRIL OF EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR �ANTI-BULLYING WEEK� IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

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WHEREAS, it is reported that approximately half of high school students have bullied someone in the past year, and nearly the same amount claim that they�ve been the victim of bullying; and
WHERAS, in recent years, the internet has become an important tool where it concerns bullying because of its reach, permanence and the sense of anonymity that it provides users; and
WHEREAS, in January 2010, 15-year old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley, Massachusetts, committed suicide after enduring months of vicious bullying by several of her classmates; and
WHEREAS, more recently, in September 2010, a freshman college student at Rutgers University, 18-year-old-Tyler Clementi, jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge after learning that his roommate streamed a webcam of some of his most private moments; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the community to address the problem of bullying; and
WHEREAS, on October 20, 2010, Barry University students gathered for a midday prayer vigil to honor victims of oppression; and
WHEREAS, it is reported that the Barry University vigil was one of several events in South Florida for �Spirit Day � It Gets Better� � a viral event that spread quickly through news on various social media; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to raise public awareness about the consequences of bullying on the lives of young people in our community,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby proclaims the third week of April of each public school academic school year as �Anti-Bullying Week� in Miami-Dade County, and is calling upon each resident to help promote the need for a supportive social environment for all our young people and the importance of eliminating bullying in our communities.