A 12-year-old autistic student from Missouri was violently beaten on a school bus by some of his fellow students in heartbreaking video that his parents say is part of a pattern of severe bullying the school district has ignored.
Matthew Jordan Jr. was sitting quietly on a Fort Osage school bus in Independence, when a group of students began to touch his hair and agitate him last Thursday — before a larger, violent assault ensued, FOX4 reported.
The brutal attack — caught on disturbing video footage — saw a gang of young students punching, hitting and grabbing the boy.
Other students cowardly stood by, many of which could be heard in the background laughing while Matthew screamed for help.
“I felt sad, raged up — and angry,” Matthew told the outlet about the attack, which he said was not an isolated incident.
When asked if he thought something like this could happen to him, Matthew knew the reason why he was targeted.
”Yes … because I have autism,” he heartbreakingly said.
Matthew’s parents say the disgusting bus attack is part of a larger pattern of ongoing bullying their son has faced due to his disability.
“It hurts — to the core, it hurts,” Matthew Jordan Sr. said in response to his son acknowledging that his autism is the reason he is being bullied.
Matthew’s parents have alerted the school district to the alarming pattern of bullying, but they say they’ve been continually brushed off by school officials.
“My main concern was his safety – him leaving the home outside of my hands, things of that sort I can only imagine how many times he cried for us,” Matthew’s mother, Tiara Jenkins, painfully said.
The Fort Osage School District reaffirmed the district’s commitment to student safety and said in a statement to The Post that they are working with Matthew’s family to ensure he “has a positive educational experience.”
“We were deeply troubled by the video of this incident, and our thoughts are with the student and family impacted. We are taking this situation seriously, and we understand the concern this causes for our entire school community,” the statement said.
“Our team has been investigating this situation and appropriate disciplinary actions are being taken in accordance with Board of Education policies.”
A rep from the school district was not able to provide specific details to The Post regarding what type of disciplinary action would be taken against the students involved due to privacy laws.
Matthew’s father, however, believes the school district is all talk and no action.
“Do better,” he said. “Do better because at the end of the day it’s easy to make a long statement and make it sound good but I’m all about action.”
Matthew’s family say they won’t transfer the 12-year-old to another school. Instead, they are demanding change from the school district and students alike.
“Stop bullying,” the 12-year-old said.
Despite his injuries, Matthew bravely returned to school the following day and his parents said they couldn’t be prouder of him for standing up for what is right and speaking out.
“I’m just super proud of Matthew,” his mother beamed. “He’s my light.”
