Donations to a vacation fund for a New York state bus monitor neared $500,000 on Friday after a video of her being taunted to tears by foul-mouthed 12- and 13-year-olds went viral.
A sympathizer set up the online fund for Karen Klein after the 10-minute video -- taken by one of the bullies -- was viewed more than 1.6 million times on YouTube and touched off an international avalanche of outrage.
The video shows Klein, a 68-year-old widow and grandmother of eight, breaking into tears in a suburb of Rochester, N.Y., as seventh-graders call her fat and ugly and demand her address so they can go to her home to rob and rape her.
But what was particularly painful was a boys saying, "You're so ugly, your kids should kill themselves."
"I don't think they knew my son had," she told WROC. Klein's eldest son took his own life 10 years ago.
Police said the parents of four of the boys were cooperating with an investigation of the vicious verbal attack, which occurred Monday.
But their conduct did not rise to the level of a crime, according to a preliminary investigation, Rochester's Greece Police Department Capt. Steve Chatterton, said.
The online fund was set up Wednesday with the message that she "doesn't earn nearly enough" to deal with this kind of bullying. Klein is paid $15,506 a year.
The goal was to raise $5,000 in 30 days, but by early Friday it had reached $458,859, funded by 21,467 donors.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:39:13 GMT
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven.
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven. Beginning with the 3:07 p.m. departure from Grand Central Terminal, Metro-North will operate about half of the regular eastbound PM peak service and regular hourly westbound service with the 4:23 PM train from New Haven. Repair work on tracks that were damaged in last week's train collision has progressed quickly, says the MTA.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:58 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:58:10 GMT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:05 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:05:54 GMT
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Sunday, May 19 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-05-19 22:42:18 GMT
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced a new legislation to reduce debt on federal loans. Gillibrand is proposing the "Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act"
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced a new legislation to reduce debt on federal loans. Gillibrand is proposing the "Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act"
Friday, May 17 2013 8:28 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:28:27 GMT
Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who represents New York City, said he will resign June 20 amid a sexual harassment scandal and run for a City Council seat.
Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who represents New York City, said he will resign June 20 amid a sexual harassment scandal and run for a City Council seat.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:06:34 GMT
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
