Brooklyn DA Searches For His Own ‘Bully’

April 11, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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District Attorney Charles Hynes Announces Own Contest for Anti-Bullying Video

JAY STREET — As an edited version of the now-famous film “Bully” will be released across the U.S. tomorrow with a new PG-13 rating, the Brooklyn district attorney is organizing a bullying film of his own.

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes announced this week that he is holding his Second Annual Legal Lives Anti-Bullying Video Contest.

Brooklyn students in the fourth through ninth grades are being encouraged to enter the DA’s contest by submitting a video about bullying. The deadline for video submissions is June 1. Alex Libby in the documentary film â€œBully.â€ Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

It’s perfect timing for Hynes’ contest, as the nationally acclaimed film “Bully” continues to make headlines.

“Bully,” directed by Lee Hirsch, is an examination of school bullying that follows five kids over the course of a school year. Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees were among the celebrity supporters of the film.

Bullying has increasingly become a growing problem in schools and the online community, Hynes says.

“It is intentional, aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of power or strength, typically repeated over time,” he said. “Bullying has a serious effect on its victims, often leading to depression, and in some cases, it may even lead to suicide.”

Participants are being asked to create a 90-second video that answers one of the following questions:

• What is bullying?

• How does bullying make you feel?

• What does a bully look like?

• How can you stop a bully?

• What should you do if you are being bullied?

Videos will be judged on creativity, so students are encouraged to use music, dancing or pictures. To submit a video, students will need to upload their video as a response to the DA Hynes Announces Anti-Bullying Video which can be found at: http://youtu.be/Y0dZHPc1PyM.

The winner will serve as “DA for the Day” and will spend the entire day with District Attorney Hynes. The winner will have the opportunity to attend meetings and conferences with DA Hynes during the day.

“The goal of the contest is to raise the consciousness of not only children, but teachers, administrators and parents to the reality of bullying and how each of them has to step up and be a part of solving this problem,” Hynes said. “If more young people were to take a stand against bullying, then the phenomenon would likely diminish over time.”

In 2010, Nairan St. Phard and Jeremiah Hyde created a rap video about bullying and performed it live at a press conference. As “DA for the Day,” the two fifth-graders attended meetings with District Attorney Hynes and honored outstanding students at the “Progress Through Justice Awards.” Nairan and Jeremiah’s winning Anti-Bullying Video can be found by visiting www.youtube.com/brooklyndaconnect.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press and Ryan Thompson of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.