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16-Year-Old Suspended After Anti-Bullying Video Goes Viral

LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee high school student's anti-bullying video has resulted in nearly 600,000 views on YouTube and a suspension for its creator.

Lebanon High School student Emily Gipson said school administrators accused her of "trying to incite violence" and gave her a two-day in-school suspension for the video entitled "Welcome to Lebanon High School," posted Jan. 22.

In the video, prompted by a classmate's October suicide, she asks students to treat each other better.

Welcome to Lebanon High School by Emily Gipson on YouTube

Principal Scott Walters told The Lebanon Democrat he can't discuss the 16-year-old's punishment, but said he took issue with the fact that the free-verse speech was recorded in a classroom without a teacher's permission. Gipson disputed that, saying she had two coaches' permission.

He also said the video hurt his feelings, and those of teachers, too.

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