Pleasanton parents demand action after student brawl caught on camera

Parents in Pleasanton are demanding action after a video of a violent fight between two high school students was posted on social media.

In the video, a high school student can be seen throwing a classmate to the ground at the local library, then hitting and stomping her on the head while other children cheer.

“This must stop before the child is seriously harmed,” said Pleasanton resident Gezal Belyakoff.

On Thursday, Belyakova told NBC Bay Area she was horrified when her daughter showed her the video. She later posted a video on the NextDoor app to raise awareness and spoke at a city council meeting on Tuesday.

“Our children are afraid to go to school. They are afraid to use the toilet and walk alone to and from the classroom,” Belyakov said. “School should be their refuge, not a place where they fear being bullied or attacked.”

“It’s worrisome. And we take it very seriously,” said Patrick Gannon of the Pleasanton Unified School District.

A spokesman for the Pleasanton Unified School District said “violence is unacceptable.” Although the incident took place across the street from Pleasanton High School near the city’s public library, administrators are taking action.

“They are in class all day today, and this week they are talking to students about safe and responsible behaviour, expectations and consequences,” Gannon said.

“I have a son, a fifth grader, who will enter the clinic next year, and I am afraid to send him there,” said Tiffany Carrion.

Parents are listening to city and school leaders as they ask the city to consider funding more school resource specialists.

“We pay more to live in the city, and that’s because we want our children to live in an environment where it’s safe to grow up and go to school safely,” Carrión said.

“I’m asking you tonight to budget and find additional resource specialists at PMS and any other schools that need support from our city because this isn’t decided at the school level,” parent Vicki Lamarge said.

The city has said there will be a joint meeting between the city and the school board in April, hoping to come up with a plan to prevent student-to-student fights like the one that has gone viral.

Parents in Pleasanton are demanding action after a video of a violent fight between two high school students was posted on social media. Jody Hernandez reports.