Disturbed Peace
The park was the one place that Little Joey Mason found peace in after school. He could play ball without his tormentors’ interference. He faced bullying at school daily, and the park was where he could escape his bullies. However, that was soon shattered.
Disturbed Peace
A Happy Place
Joey was unable to deal with the unwanted attention he was receiving from the bullies at his school. Nonetheless, the park was the one place he never thought he would have to deal with this kind of attention. Yet, one day these abusers made an appearance.
A Happy Place
His Own Company
Joey lived and attended school in Toronto, Canada, where he had various run-ins with bullies. This started at the tender age of four. Due to this, he preferred to keep to himself. He enjoyed his own company, rather than being around the boys at his school.
His Own Company
Just a Normal Day
Joey continued with his day as he usually would. After school, he made his way to the park. However, little did the boy know that a group of tormentors had the same idea. He liked the park because he could run around and play with his dog without being picked on.
Just A Normal Day
Speaking Out
Joey was seen as a happy boy. Nonetheless, he used social media to express the situation that he was going through in school. He described that this attention was making him afraid and sad, and was the result of his low self-esteem.
Speaking Out
The Bullying Continues
His encounters received a vast amount of attention. Yet, this didn’t stop the bullying. In fact, Joey’s father was still in the dark about everything that his son was experiencing at school. He knew nothing about the bullying or social media posts.
The Bullying Continues
Fathers Know Their Sons
Joey and his dad had a good relationship, and his dad could tell that something wasn’t quite right. He felt uneasy as he had noticed the social withdraw Joey was exhibiting, as Joey wasn’t seen mingling with kids from school.
Fathers Know Their Sons
Refusing To Talk
Joey’s father acted like every other concerned parent would and tried to squeeze any ounce of information out of Joey. However, Joey didn’t budge. He was extremely ashamed of the situation and only felt comfortable sharing it on online forums.
Refusing To Talk
Putting Pieces Together
Joey’s dad began thinking about what could be causing his son to withdraw from all social aspects. He pieced together that he started acting like this after the father and son duo moved to a new school district. His father now thought it could be something to do with a teacher or another student.
Putting Pieces Together
The Duties of a Father
Joey’s dad had an idea of what was going on but didn’t know the specifics. All he knew was that his son would return from school in tears, which concerned the father. He became determined to find out the truth quickly.
The Duties Of A Father
A Father’s Love
Joey’s father was in utter shock when he found out the extent of his son’s bullying. He knew he needed to resolve this problem. He was devastated that this was happening to his son and needed it to end right away. He didn’t care how drastic the measures were.
A Father’s Love
How to Stop It
Joey’s dad thought long and hard about the best solution to put a stop to the problem. It broke him to see his son getting more and more depressed as the days passed. That’s when he came up with a plan that he thought could work.
How To Stop It
Who Could Do This?
After thinking about the situation for so long, Joey’s father concluded that it had to be a teacher or fellow student. He knew nobody in their inner circle would dare do such a thing. Joey was only upset while attending school.
Who Could Do This?
Spying Mode
Before deciding on a plan of action, Joey’s father decided that it would be a good idea to follow his son to the school and park. He wanted to get a feel of what his son experiences throughout the day.
Spying Mode
Uncovering the Truth
Joey made his way to the park, not knowing that his father was watching. The peace of the park was quickly shattered when a group of older boys came up to him with the purpose of tormenting him. Luckily, his father was positioned nearby.
Uncovering The Truth
A Target
Joey had become those bullies’ target for the day. This is what it seemed like to Joey’s dad. However, this was not a one-time occasion. This happened daily. Joey was targeted by these bullies before and after school every day. They tormented him wherever he went.
A Target
Doing the Right Thing
Joey may not have known it at the time, but he dealt with the bullies in the right way. He ignored their taunts, which was the right thing to do in the situation. However, it enraged the bullies and caused them to get meaner.
Doing The Right Thing
An Easy Target
Many people claimed that Joey was one to not want to involve others in his troubles. These bullies could spot this, which made him an easy target for their torment. This is because they knew he wouldn’t run for help. Thus, his bullying continued.
An Easy Target
No Help
The friends that Joey had at school were sometimes present when the bullying would happen, yet they didn’t speak up or tell a teacher. They were fearful for their own safety. Anyone else that noticed it probably didn’t realize the full extent of how serious the situation was.
No Help
Present At the Right Time
The day that Joey’s dad was spying on his son at the park, he saw the older boys forcing Joey into a specific part of the park. This part of the park would prevent Joey from being able to escape. It was lucky that his father was there that day, as he seemed to be the only one witnessing the situation.
Present At The Right Time
Immediate Action
The older boys started getting a lot more violent at an alarming rate. Anyone else at the park may have seen this as a playful encounter. However, it was about to become a real problem as the bullies didn’t have any wholesome intentions towards Joey.
Immediate Action
Stolen
The situation heightened when one of the boys stole Joey’s ball and refused to give it back. He claimed it was his, which led to the small boy protesting against it. He was then mocked for his small stature and lack of strength to fight for his ball.
Stolen
Undecided
This mockery wasn’t good enough for the older boys. Instead, one of the bullies kept the ball out of Joey’s reach and continued taunting him. All of this was being witnessed from behind the trees. Joey’s father still stood undecided as to how to deal with this situation.
Undecided
A Helping Hand
The situation continued, and Joey’s dad became more and more enraged as the seconds ticked by, yet he carried on watching. Then, one of the bigger boys tossed the ball far away from Joey. That was when Joey’s dad decided enough was enough.
A Helping Hand
Dad to the Rescue
Joey’s dad finally decided to end the tormenting. The older boys didn’t know that the man behind the trees was Joey’s dad, which the father was going to use to his advantage. The father approached the boys, and sternly asked what was happening. The bullies froze.
Dad To The Rescue
Lies Get You Nowhere
The boys appeared guiltless and innocently claimed to just be playing fetch. This was a lie that the bullies expected the man to buy, but Joey’s father didn’t. He knew exactly what was happening and was not going to let the bullies get away with it.
Lies Get You Nowhere
Time for Answers
The man spoke in a very deep tone and demanded to know why they thought it was funny to bully a smaller boy. He went on to ask if their families would be proud if they knew what they were doing. One of the boys claimed that they weren’t doing anything wrong, but the father wasn’t finished yet.
Time For Answers
A Father’s Protection
The man stopped to pick up the ball and gave it to the smaller boy. Joey’s father then demanded that the older boys exit the park and find another form of entertainment that was more appropriate. Joey’s daily occurrence had just been turned in his favor.
A Father’s Protection
Actions Have Reactions
A few days after the incident, Joey and his father created a plan to make sure the boys had learned their lesson. They were walking to school together and deliberately took the path that led them to where the bullies hung out.
Actions Have Reactions
Implementing the Plan
It was time for their plan to be put into action. Joey walked ahead, making sure he went right to where the bullies hang-out. The boys began to yell and taunt Joey as soon as they caught sight of him.
Implementing The Plan
Joey’s Father Reveals Something
This was when Joey’s father erupted out of nowhere. He asked if there was a problem as he opened his coat to reveal what was hidden underneath. The boys ran off as soon as they caught a glimpse of what was underneath the father’s clothing.
Joey’s Father Reveals Something
The Reveal
The glimpse of a white uniform frightened the bullies so much that they ran away and never looked back. Joey’s dad’s plan had worked. The boys got scared off as soon as they saw the father’s Judo uniform completed with a black belt.
The Reveal
Creating Awareness
The world is looking at bullying a lot differently. It’s now being taken more seriously. Celebrities are speaking up to gain awareness around this issue. Joey’s story is all too common globally, and people are expressing that it shouldn’t be like this.
Creating Awareness
Another Story
In 2017, the world was informed of the bullying that was being experienced by a young boy named Keaton. He narrated videos of his experience he faced with bullies and posted it on various social media platforms. It gained a lot of traction.
Another Story
Viral
The story eventually went viral, and Keaton’s experiences help shed light on the issue that is being faced in our society. It sparked many conversations about bullying and was why many ideas were created to help stop it.
Viral
Celebrity Involvement
There were a variety of celebrities that got involved in the conversation. A notable figure that publically supported Keaton was Chris Evans, also known as Captain America. He praised the boy for being so brave and even invited him to the Avengers movie premiere.
Celebrity Involvement
Sports Heroes
Keaton was a huge fan of football and was overjoyed when he saw Delanie Walker take to his Instagram to show his support for Keaton. He mentioned in his Instagram video that he finds bullying deplorable. He also encouraged those that were suffering from bullying to stay strong and reach out for help.
Sports Heroes
Keaton’s Dream Comes True
Keaton’s favorite team, the Tennessee Titans, and Delanie invited Keaton to come and watch a crucial game against the Jaguars. Keaton didn’t hesitate, and he, with his family, was able to meet all of the beloved players and watch the game in the best seats possible.
Keaton’s Dream Comes True
Singing Super Star Joins the Conversation
After a few weeks of being on the internet, Keaton’s videos had circulated across the world and had been seen by over two million people, including Justin Bieber. Justin reached out to Keaton and told him that he was on a roll and unstoppable.
Singing Super Star Joins The Conversation
Playing Your Part
One thing that anyone can do to eradicate the presence of bullying is to make the abuser aware of their actions. Doing this can bring shame to the bully and can aid in the bully stopping. Watching someone get bullied and not standing up against it is as bad as committing the act yourself – Don’t do it!
Playing Your Part