SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) – Hundreds of people came out for an anti-bullying rally in a central New Jersey town that’s been rocked by allegations of sex-related hazing on its high school football team that prompted the cancellation of the rest of the season.
The Sunday night rally was staged in a park across the street from the school, Sayreville War Memorial High. Organizers said the event was held to promote unity and healing within the community and to show support for the victims of bullying.
Participants were given balloons, ribbons, stickers and candles. They were asked to walk around the lake at Kennedy Park and release the balloons or show other forms of support.
Alex Simon, 24, a Sayreville native who recently moved to Connecticut to attend law school, said he came back home for the event to show support for his community. Simon attended schools in the town and served for a time as a substitute teacher in the school district.
“This will be a long recovery process for our community, but this is a good first step,” Simon said of the rally. “I’ve talked with lots of people (about the hazing claims) and they were upset about it, but I think this event is a good way to start getting things better. I’ve always loved this town and will always support it.”