speech about bullying

Speech about Bullying

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and fellow advocates for change,

Today, I stand before you to address an issue that has long plagued our schools, workplaces, and online spaces — bullying. This pervasive problem transcends age, gender, and geography, leaving a trail of emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical scars on its victims. It is a call to action for all of us, a plea to stand up, speak out, and put an end to bullying in all its forms.

Bullying is not just a childhood rite of passage or a harmless phase of growing up. It is a serious issue that can dramatically affect the mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being of individuals. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and, in extreme cases, self-harm and suicide. The effects of bullying extend beyond the victims, impacting witnesses and even the bullies themselves, creating a cycle of aggression and suffering that can last a lifetime.

We often hear about physical bullying, but let us not overlook the silent yet equally destructive forms of bullying: verbal, emotional, and increasingly, cyberbullying. In this digital age, bullies have found new platforms to harass and intimidate, hiding behind screens, causing untold damage to those who feel they have nowhere to hide.

What can we do to combat this issue? The answer lies not in silence, but in our collective voices and actions. Education and awareness are our most powerful tools. We must educate ourselves, our children, and our communities about the impact of bullying. We must foster environments where empathy and kindness are valued above all, where diversity is celebrated, and differences are embraced.

As individuals, we have the power to make a difference. If you see bullying, speak out. If you know someone who is being bullied, reach out. Be that friend, that mentor, that confidant who can make a world of difference. Encourage victims to speak up and assure them that they are not alone. Your support can be the beacon of hope they desperately need.

To the victims of bullying, I say this: Your worth is not defined by the words or actions of bullies. You are strong, you are valuable, and you have the right to stand tall without fear. Do not let the darkness of bullying dim the light within you. Reach out, seek help, and know that there is a community ready to stand by your side.

Let us also address the bullies. Often, bullying behavior is a manifestation of deeper issues. If you find yourself hurting others, I urge you to seek help and reflect on the impact of your actions. There is a path to change, and it starts with understanding and empathy.

In conclusion, it is time for all of us to take a stand against bullying. Let’s create a culture of respect, kindness, and understanding. Let’s empower those who have been silenced by fear, and let’s work together to make our communities safer for everyone. Today, I challenge each of you to be an agent of change. Together, we can turn the tide against bullying and pave the way for a future where everyone can live free from fear.

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How To Write An Impactful Speech On Bullying (Sample Speech Included)

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If you attended an educational institution, chances are that you are familiar with the word ‘bullying’. Even if you were not the one bullied, maybe you witnessed someone else being bullied. Or maybe you’ve simply heard the term mentioned by your teachers or other people in authority during an anti-bullying campaign or a speech of some sort.

Whatever the context, most people are familiar with the term bullying and what it entails. And yet, statistics are proof that simply possessing the knowledge that bullying is real does not necessarily mean that people will–or are–doing anything about it.

One out of five students has reported being bullied. 70% of school staff have seen bullying. The number of anti-bullying campaigns might be on the rise, yes, but as you can see, the number of students being bullied remains just as abhorrently high.

If you’re going to be delivering a speech against bullying, then it’s important for you to know these statistics. It’s only when you realize this that you will understand that simply giving a speech against bullying is not enough.

Instead, you must strive to deliver your speech in such a manner that it actually impacts other people & results in tangible changes.

Sounds tough, I know. But it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

By keeping in mind a few things like keeping your audience & occasion in mind, incorporating stories & videos, varying your speech pattern, and having a powerful opening as well as closing, you can deliver an impactful speech on bullying.

Tips For Delivering A Speech On Bullying

1. Keep The Occasion & Audience In Mind

What is the occasion? Are you delivering your speech for a school assembly, or is it for a professional campaign? Is your audience going to be comprised of bullies/bullying victims, or are they simply ordinary individuals wanting to know more about bullying?

The answer to these questions is going to alter how you should go about structuring your speech. For example, if you’re delivering your speech to school-going children, then you’re going to have to alter your speech to fit their understanding level.

2. Make It A Perfomance, Not Just A Speech

A speech connotates something that revolves around the words and the act of speaking. However, a performance is so much more than a speech: think of it as speech leveled up by multiple levels.

A performance includes speech, yes, but it also includes other important things like your voice modulation, expressions, gestures, body language, emotions, and storytelling, to name a new. A performance is a wholesome experience.

By providing your audience a wholesome experience instead of simply delivering a speech–something that they’ve probably heard multiple times before–you increase the chances that they will actually take an action to do something about it.

Our article, A Guide To Making Your Speech Interesting , has more tips on how to make your speech intriguing to the audience.

3. Tell Stories

Storytelling is an absolute must for any speech. It becomes even more important to include stories when you’re talking about something as sensitive as bullying. By telling stories, you make your speech–and the experience of bullying–more real to your audience.

You make your audience empathize with you as well as your topic. You make them realize that the victims and survivors of bullying are not some nameless humans that the audience doesn’t care about. You make the bullying survivors–and the bullies themselves– real .

You make them relate an abstract concept to real life, and to see things that are probably happening around them, but they’d never seen before.

4. Use Props

Props are another element that you must definitely incorporate in any speech or presentation. Props, like stories, can make your topic more tangible and easy to understand for the audience. They can also add a touch of uniqueness to your speech, and make it more memorable for the people attending.

However, before choosing your prop, you must ensure that it is relevant to the topic. Don’t just add a prop to your speech for the sake of adding it.

5. Change Your Speech Pattern

It’s not just the content of your speech that matters. The way you deliver your speech plays just as internal of a role in the impact you’ll make on your audience as the actual speech itself. Speech pattern is key to making an emotional impact on your audience’s mind.

You don’t want to sound like a robot while delivering your speech. Instead, mix up your speech pattern. If you’re going to be delivering an impactful quote, pause for a moment. If you’re reaching a serious point in your story, slow down your cadence. Vary your speech pattern.

6. Show Videos

Videos are an excellent way to make a connection with the audience. Videos will allow you to tell your story without resorting to just words. Videos can capture your audience’s attention & enhances your narrative to another level.

You can include short videos that you can easily find online. Alternatively, if you want to take up the creativity another notch, you can customize a video on your own & include it in your speech.

7. Have A Dynamic Opening & End

The way you open your speech–and how you close it–play a key role in determining the kind of impact you will make on your audience’s mind.

If your opening isn’t interesting enough, then you’ll end up losing your audience’s attention even before you have it. Alternatively, if your speech ending isn’t impactful enough, then your audience will probably forget about it the moment they leave–which is definitely something that no speaker wants.

For some inspiration on how to close your speech, check out our article on 10 Of The Best Things To Say In Closing Remarks.

5 Ways To Open Your Speech on Bullying

1. Make Them Imagine

Imagination is one of the strongest tools in your arsenal as a public speaker. By channeling the power of imagination right in the beginning of your speech, you can make your audience form a personal connection with the topic right off the bat.

By making your audience imagine being in a scenario related to bullying, you can make them empathize with your topic better. This is key if you wish for them to take actual steps to stop bullying.

For example: Imagine if we lived in a world that was actually free…

2. Ask Them A Rhethorical Question

Questions are an excellent way to get your audience thinking. Questions can act as a cognitive ‘wake-up’ for your audience & get their thoughts flowing. By asking your audience a question right in the beginning, you prime them for the rest of your speech.

So, pose a question to your audience at the beginning of your speech. Rhetorical questions are great speech openers. Because, unlike a regular question that most likely has a straightforward answer, rhetorical questions make your audience think more deeply.

For example: If you met someone who’d bullied you 15 years ago in high-school, what would you do?

3. Tell A Personal Story

Another great way to begin your speech is by telling them a personal story. Stories–especially if they’re personal–can make the audience form an instant connection with the speaker and the topic.

Have you been bullied in the past? Or did you witness someone get bullied–or stand up for themself in the most awesome way imaginable?

Now would be the time to include them.

For example: I was bullied for over three years during my…

4. Make A Bold Statement

Surprising your audience is a great way to begin your speech. By making a bold statement, you not only achieve this, but you also make your audience see you as a more confident & respectable figure. This increases the chances that they will perceive your speech in a positive light.

So, start off your speech with a bold statement.

For example : I wish bullies were treated the same as murderers.

5. Use Facts & Statistics

Statistics and facts are an age-old way to have a foolproof beginning. Statistics and facts can add shock value to your speech opening, and awaken your audience. They might also cause the audience to see your speech in a different light.

However, one thing to keep in mind while incorporating facts or statistics is to ensure that they’re not too complicated or include a lot of numbers. You want to keep your facts simple, and relevant to the topic at hand.

For example: 1 in 5 children reports being bullied during their high school…

For more ideas on how to open your speech, check out our article on 10 Of The Best Things To Say In Opening Remarks.

Sample Speech On Bullying

Bullying: It’s More Than Getting Punched

“Why don’t you just kill yourself?” This is the gift that arrived in my inbox on the morning of my fourteenth birthday. A fourteen year old girl–statements like these were a common part of my daily life. I’d listened to them every single day since I entered high-school. In fact, they were precisely the reason why I begged my parents to home school me in the first place. When I began my home-schooling journey, I did so with a lot of hope. Hope that I would finally be able to get away from the words that had been hurled at me every single day for the last two years. And yet, here we were. Not even a week had passed since I left the concrete halls of my high-school for the comfort and safety of my home, and yet as it turned out, home wasn’t safe either. Nothing was. Not in this new, techonology-driven world where people don’t need to be standing in front of you to communicate with you–or bully you. Or threaten your life. A few quick thrusts on the keypad, a couple of clicks, and it’s done. When people think of bullying, they often picture giant, violent figures towering over tiny, sobbing ones. Or hordes of people screaming insults at cowering figures in the hallway. Or pushing them against walls and banging their heads against toilet seats. While the incidents I’ve described still happen–and too often–bullying is so much more than that. Bullying, in the modern world, is like a hydra monster from the Greek Myths: it doesn’t have one face but ten, and every time you shack off one head, another one pops up in its place. We all know what to do if we’re bullied–or see someone else get bullied. We’ve heard it before, or maybe seen in the pamphlets on bulletin boards or in videos shown in classrooms. But before we take steps to stop bullying, we need to first learn how to identify it. Because unless and until we can recognize bullying when it happens to us–or to someone else–how will it matter whether we know the ways to stop it or not? Bullying can come in many forms. Bullying can be whispered insults when you think no one else is listening. Bullying can be deliberately pulling someone down on their happiest day. Bullying can be starting rumors about someone. Bullying can be tiny actions with no consequences–not for you, at least. It can be little jokes made by your ‘friends’–or little ‘bits of advice to lose weight or gain weight.’ Bullying can happen on the internet, through a string of messages that you hurl behind the mask of anonimity. Bullying can happen in the workplace, or in your college. Bullying can take the shape of prejudice, in the form of stealing opportunties from someone. Bullying can even happen in your own houseold, in your own relationship–and not just romantic ones. Bullying is not just physical. It has more than one dimension. Bullying can be emotional, social, spiritual…and many more things. And yet it is only one aspect of bullying that we tackle, the only one that gets talked about. It is a common misconception. If you hold it, I don’t blame you. After all, even I–a victim myself–held for a long, long time. In fact, in the beginning I didn’t even realize that I was getting bullied at all. After all, nobody ever physically punched me. I was never shoved against the lockers or punched in the face. By conventional definitions of bullying, I was never bullied. And I’m not the only one–a study showed that 64 % of bullying victoms never speak up about their bullying. It was only the day that the message arrived in my inbox that I realized that bullying can come in more than one shape or form. And most of them are forms that we’re not familiar with–at least, not yet. But we need to be. We need to recognize bullying–and we need to get better at doing it. Look at the people around you. You might not know it–they might not know it yet–but they may be getting bullied. And if you want to stop it, you must learn to see it first. They asked me why couldn’t I kill myself. I ask you: do you have the ability to recognize who they are?

To sum up, writing a speech on bullying is simple, and no different than any other speech. Keep in mind a few things like keeping your audience & occasion in mind, incorporating stories & videos, varying your speech pattern, and having a powerful opening as well as closing, and you can deliver an impactful speech on bullying.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Bullying — Persuasive Speech About Bullying

Persuasive Speech About Bullying

• Categories: Bullying

About this sample

Words: 1210 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 1210 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Table of contents

I. introduction, ii. types of bullying, iii. consequences of bullying, myths and misconceptions about bullying, strategies to address bullying, the role of persuasive speech in combating bullying, a. physical bullying, b. verbal bullying, c. cyberbullying, d. psychological bullying, a. bullying can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues that may persist long after the bullying has stopped., a. bullying is just a part of growing up:, b. only boys bully others:, c. victims of bullying are weak:, d. bullying only happens in school:, a. creating a supportive school environment:, b. implementing anti-bullying policies:, c. encouraging bystander intervention:, d. providing support for victims of bullying:, a. raising awareness about the issue of bullying:, b. empowering individuals to take action against bullying:, c. encouraging empathy and understanding towards victims of bullying:, d. inspiring positive change in attitudes and behaviors towards bullying:.

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Speech on Bullying

Bullying is a harsh reality many face, especially in school. It’s when someone repeatedly hurts, threatens, or picks on another person.

You might have seen it, or maybe you’ve been a victim. It’s important to understand what bullying is, so we can stop it.

1-minute Speech on Bullying

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today we are here to talk about a serious issue – bullying. Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person repeatedly. The person being bullied finds it hard to defend themselves. Bullying is not just physical, it can also be words that hurt, or even ignoring someone on purpose.

Bullying is wrong. It can make a person feel lonely, unhappy, and scared. It can hurt their feelings and sometimes, it can even make them feel ill. We all have the right to feel safe and happy. No one should ever have to go through the pain of being bullied.

Why do some people bully? Some people bully because they feel bad about themselves, and they think it will make them popular or powerful. But it doesn’t. It just makes them mean. It’s important to remember that people who bully others need help too. They need to learn better ways to deal with their feelings.

What can we do about bullying? We can stand up against it. If you see someone being bullied, don’t just stand there. Get help. If you are being bullied, don’t keep it to yourself. Tell a trusted adult. You are not alone, and it is not your fault.

Remember, everyone deserves respect. Let’s treat others the way we want to be treated. Let’s stand together against bullying. Let’s make our world a kinder, safer place. Thank you.

Also check:

• Essay on Bullying
• 10-lines on Bullying

2-minute Speech on Bullying

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let’s talk about bullying. It’s a word we hear often, but what does it really mean? Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person again and again. It can happen in many ways – through words, actions, or even online.

Bullying is not just a problem for the person being bullied. It’s a problem for everyone. When bullying happens, it makes our schools, our neighborhoods, and our online spaces feel unsafe. It can make us feel scared, sad, or angry. And these feelings can make it hard for us to learn, to make friends, and to grow up healthy and strong.

Now, let’s think about the person who bullies. Why do they do it? Some people bully others because they feel bad about themselves. They think that making someone else feel small will make them feel big. But this is not true. Bullying doesn’t make anyone a bigger or better person.

Bullying is not a game. It’s not something we can ignore or laugh off. It’s a serious problem that hurts people. And it’s up to all of us to stop it.

So, what can we do? First, we can stand up for people who are being bullied. If you see someone being bullied, don’t just stand by and watch. Tell an adult, or if you feel safe, tell the bully to stop.

Second, we can be kind. Kindness is the opposite of bullying. When we are kind to each other, we make our schools, our neighborhoods, and our online spaces safe and welcoming for everyone.

Lastly, we can talk about bullying. Talk about it with your friends, your family, your teachers. The more we talk about bullying, the more we understand it. And the more we understand it, the better we can fight it.

Remember, everyone has the right to feel safe and respected. No one deserves to be bullied. Together, we can stop bullying and make our world a kinder, safer place. Thank you.

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13 TED Talks to help you understand and prevent bullying

By Laura McClure on October 24, 2017 in Interviews

October is National Bullying Prevention Month in the US, and chances are you know someone who’s been bullied — or you’ve been bullied yourself.

Here, I’ve curated a list of TED and TEDx Talks that I feel unpack different aspects of the problems, solutions and experiences we’re facing in our modern world of bullying — both on and offline. I hope you’ll not only watch these talks, but also consider ways you might help to move the conversation on these issues forward. As you do, be an upstander: Show support to a target of bullying behavior or online harassment; report a bullying situation; or intervene on behalf of someone if it feels safe for you. Together, we can hopefully make it harder for bullies to thrive.

To This Day … for the bullied and beautiful – Shane Koyczan

Shane Koyczan’s spoken-word poem speaks to young people suffering from bullying in such a profoundly moving, empathic way that lifts the spirit and validates our humanity. He says, “If you can’t see anything beautiful about yourself, get a better mirror, look a little closer.”

Watch an animated version of this talk :

How the worst moments in our lives make us who we are - Andrew Solomon

Rather than a search for meaning in the adversity in our lives, we need to forge meaning and build identity. “Forging meaning is about changing yourself,” says Andrew Solomon. “Building identity is about changing the world.” And in a sentence that speaks especially to me, he says, “When we’re ashamed, we can’t tell our stories, and stories are the foundation of identity.”

Watch the talk :

How data from a crisis text line is saving lives - Nancy Lublin

Sometimes it’s not enough to try to help. Sometimes you need to be so creative, so savvy, so plain smart that you realize to reach today’s young people you need to use their megaphone – texting. Nancy Lublin had that vision. She says of her Crisis Text Line, “If you text us, ‘I want to die,’ or ‘I want to kill myself,’ the algorithm reads that, you’re code orange, and you become number one in the queue. So we can handle severity, not chronological.”

When online shaming goes too far - Jon Ronson

Jon Ronson paints such a vivid, unforgettable portrait of how a human being’s entire existence can be brutally and cruelly destroyed in an instant by an Internet mob. He uses humor and intelligence to call us out on our public shaming — and it works.

How online abuse of women has spiraled out of control - Ashley Judd

Courageous actress Ashley Judd stands on the TED stage and repeats the filthy, vile slurs flung at her by anonymous hordes on Twitter. The audience is silent – shocked and disheartened. There is an important difference, she says, between free speech and hate speech. And our legislators need to write and pass laws that reflect that.

Why I keep speaking up, even when people mock my accent - Safwat Saleem

Safwat Saleem grew up embarrassed about his accent and his stuttering. With great insights and an infectious sense of humor, he deconstructs what it means to be different from the norm and how he challenges the “preexisting notion of normal with my work and with my voice.”

Rethink before you type - Trisha Prabhu | TEDxTeen

Teenager Trisha Prabhu argues that it’s time to challenge people engaging in bullying behavior and find a way to make them stop. She applied science and tech to the problem and created a tool called Rethink, an automatic message that appears before an offensive post is sent and asks the sender if they really want to hurt or humiliate the recipient. (A startling 93.4% backed down.)

How little people can make a big difference – Charlie Cooper | TEDxJCUCairns

Nine-year-old Charlie wore glasses, struggled with school and had no friends. Then he came up with an ingenious idea: the Buddy Bench. Other children could approach any child sitting alone on the buddy bench and invite him to play, or go for a walk or share a laugh. Charlie Cooper will steal your heart.

What kids have to say about bullying and how to end it – Tina Meier | TEDxBend

Tina’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Megan, was the victim of a cruel cyberbullying hoax — and tragically, she committed suicide. Tina thinks about Megan every moment of every day. And while nothing will bring her daughter back, she hopes that she can help other parents. “Put down your cell phones,” she says. “Really listen.”

Don’t like clickbait? Don’t click – Sally Kohn

I originally had a quote from this great talk in my own TED Talk but, sadly, had to cut for time. Understanding how our clicking behavior contributes to a culture of humiliation that feeds bullying is key. As Sally Kohn explains, “Everything we blog, everything we Tweet, and everything we click is a public act of making media. We are the new editors.”

I grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church. Here’s why I left – Megan Phelps-Roper

Megan Phelps-Roper shares a personal and powerful story of what can happen when we open ourselves to listening to ideological viewpoints different from our own.

Listening to shame – Brené Brown

Brené Brown has arguably done more to open the dialogue around shame than any other thinker today — and she does it brilliantly. In this TED Talk, she argues that vulnerability is not weakness. Brené’s talks have personally helped me immensely.

Embracing otherness, embracing myself – Thandie Newton

Thandie Newton speaks eloquently to anyone who has ever felt like “The Other.” She draws a vivid picture of how being different shaped her sense of identity. And she describes the path she took to accepting her otherness and ultimately blossoming.

This article was adapted for TED-Ed from this TED Blog post .

Next, read 6 effective ways to stop bullying and teach kindness to kids .

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• Speech Writing /

Speech on How to Tackle Bullying in Schools?

• Updated on  
• Dec 16, 2023

Imagine you see an average schoolgirl bullied multiple times by her classmates. Her classmates make fun of her by calling her weird names, revealing her secrets, and even physical bullying like pushing and pinching. What would be the first thought in your mind? You probably want to help her in dealing with bullies. According to a 2019 report, 2 out of 10 students in India are bullied at school. The majority of the students fall in the 12 to 18 years of age group. Bullying can have serious and lasting effects on individuals’ emotional and physical health. Do you want to know the solution to this? Guess what? Today, we have brought you a speech on how to tackle bullying in school, where different methods and techniques will be discussed. Stay tuned!

Check out our 200+ Essay Topics for Students in English!

Table of Contents

• 1 10 Lines On How to Tackle Bullying in Schools
• 2 2-Minute Speech on How to Tackle Bullying in Schools
• 3 Popular Quotes on Anti-Bullying in School

Also Read: Essay on Knowledge Is Power

Also Read: Speech on ‘If I Had A Superpower’

10 Lines On How to Tackle Bullying in Schools

Here are 10 lines on how to tackle bullying in schools. Feel free to use them in your speech topics.

One of the best ways to tackle bullying in school is to stand up against them.

Educational programs and campaigns can help to raise awareness about the negative impacts of bullying.

Students must be encouraged to open communication where they can comfortably discuss their experiences and concerns without fear of judgment.

Schools must establish and enforce anti-bullying policies to deter and address bullying behavior.

Schools must promote the concept of cyberbullying and encourage students to digital respect and kindness.

Teachers and other staff members must be provided with training to address bullying incidents.

Nourishing a positive and inclusive school environment can make students feel valued and protected. 

Students must be taught how to help a victim of bullying.

There should be support services at school, ensuring proper counseling for the victims of bullying.

Parents’ active participation is necessary in anti-bullying efforts, as will be informed and involved in creating a safe environment.

Also Read: Speech About Life for Students in English

2-Minute Speech on How to Tackle Bullying in Schools

‘Good morning my friends and teacher (s). Today, I stand before you to present my speech on how to tackle bullying in schools. One way, we all have bullied someone. It can be verbal, physical, social or disability bullying. When you are making fun or badmouthing about someone, you don’t care what the person might be going through. For you, it’s either an everyday thing or you probably enjoy doing so.

‘But you know what? A person involved in bullying is never loved. This is because they don’t have emotions. Bullying is one of the worst experiences a student can ever go through. Imagine yourself being bullied at school and it’s the same thing every day. What would you do? Who will you reach out to? Do you have the courage to stand up against bullies? If you do, then good for you but not every student is courageous enough to stand up to bullies.’

‘To tackle bullies at schools, experts have suggested multiple strategies. The first one is to launch educational programs and campaigns that can help raise awareness about the negative impacts of bullying. Constant negative interactions can contribute to the development of depression and anxiety disorders.’

‘Schools must nourish positive and inclusive environments that can make students feel valued and protected. A lot of victims of bullying try to skip or avoid school to escape bullying, which interferes with their academic scores and can lead to education setbacks.’

‘Children with elder siblings are often compared by their parents. No two children are the same. Parents must stop this comparison between their children and encourage them to perform well by supporting them in learning new skills.’

‘Before implementing anti-bullying strategies, educators, parents, and students must recognize the signs of bullying. Next time you see a victim of a bully, just put yourself in their shoe and you will understand what they are going through.

Thank you.’

Popular Quotes on Anti-Bullying in School

Here are some popular quotes about anti-bullying in school. Feel free to use them in your speech or any writing topic.

• ‘Encourage don’t belittle, embrace their individuality. And show them that no matter what they will always have value if they stay true to themselves’ – Salonge Nicole
• ‘Smiles and kindness bring so much more than money can buy. Help and acceptance are all that are needed when you see someone cry.’ – Jennifer Sodini
• ‘Don’t ever let anyone bring you down, define who you are or destroy your AWESOMENESS.’ – Comic Strip Mama
• ‘Bullying is wrong. It is not okay to bully others back because they bullied you.
• We learned our lesson with Don the Goat.’ – T.R Durphy

Related Articles

Ans: The act of teasing someone using words or physically harming them is known as bullying. Bullying can have several negative impacts on the victim, such as emotional and psychological impacts, physical consequences, academic setbacks, behavioral and social changes, etc. To tackle bullying in schools, teachers and parents must encourage children to stand up against bullies. Schools must implement anti-bullying programs and campaigns to raise awareness about the negative impacts of bullying. Schools must promote the concept of cyberbullying and encourage students to digital respect and kindness. Teachers and other staff members must be provided with training to address bullying incidents.

Ans: There are different types of bullying, such as verbal, physical, social, cyber, sexual, religious, and homophobic bullying.

Ans: Reaching out and talking to the victim is the best way to help them. You need to ask them how you can help and that you will listen without judgment. Try to act like a friend and show them that you care. If you are listening to them, make them trust you by sharing your personal experiences. Encourage them to stand up against bullying or talk to a teacher about such incidents.

For more information on such interesting speech topics for your school, visit our speech writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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How to Talk About Bullying

Talking about bullying can be difficult for everyone. There are many ways to raise the subject of bullying and start the conversation before bullying happens or if you are concerned that it may be happening.

• To learn how to talk to kids about bullying, read these tips for parents and caregivers
• To learn how to talk to an adult about bullying, read these tips for youth

How to Talk to Kids about Bullying – Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Children who experienced or witnessed bullying may want to discuss it with their parents, but not know how to bring it up. Some children may be afraid that they’ll be “in trouble” for what happened. Others may feel embarrassment or shame. A parent may notice changes in their child’s behavior and find it difficult to talk about it in a way that doesn’t make their child feel uncomfortable.  

Start talking about bullying now

Don’t wait for bullying to happen before you talk about it. According to the Indicators of School Crime and Safety Report , 22% of U.S. students aged 12-18 reported being bullied at school in 2019. Children can be afraid to talk about bullying with their family. Parents create trust with children by initiating open, honest discussions. These dialogues provide opportunities to communicate values and learn about your child’s experience. They make it easier for your children to turn to you if they witness or experience bullying.

Have thoughtful talks with your child every day

Initiate talks in the car, before or after homework, over dinner or breakfast, or when doing something together. Keep it casual and curious. Talk about the daily schedule. Listen. Show that you trust them. Ask open ended questions about their day or activities.

• What’s the funniest thing that happened today?
• What was the best and worst thing that happened to you today?
• What new thing did you learn about a friend or another student this week?
• What would you change about today?

Use your experience to help them talk about theirs

For instance, share an age-appropriate story about bullying you experienced or witnessed.  Talk about how it was distressing, awkward, scary, upsetting, or left you with questions. Start with, “Hey, did I tell you about…?”

Talk about bullying in a general way

Bring up the subject of bullying as if it were a news item or a subject you want to learn more about.

• I’ve been hearing about cyberbullying a lot lately. Have you ever seen it? How did they handle it? What would you have done?
• Some of my friends were talking about bullying happening at their child’s school. Do you ever see any bullying happening? How did the school deal with it? What did you think of that?

If your child witnessed bullying

Validate their feelings. Listen without judgement. Ask them some questions to get a feel for what they may need. Learn more about how bystanders can stop or respond to bullying .

• What was it like for you to witness that?
• Do you think the child who was bullied is ok?
• Did you want to do anything in that situation?
• How did other kids react?
• Do you want to talk about different ways you can handle it if it happens again?
• Is there anything you’d like me to do?

If your child isn’t sure what happened was bullying

Ask open-ended questions to get more information about what happened, so you can help them learn how to identify bullying.

• Where did this happen?
• What was going on right before this happened?
• How did the child being bullied react? Were they hurt or upset? (Bullying and teasing are different. If someone was upset by it, then it is likely bullying. Watch this video on the difference between bullying and teasing .)
• Does the person who did it act this way with other people?
• Do they normally get along or what is their general relationship to each other?
• How did the others who were there react when it happened?
• How would you have felt if it had happened to you?
• Do you think this incident was meant to make someone look bad? (If yes, it was probably bullying.)
• Do you think the person doing it wanted to purposely exclude or humiliate the other person? (If yes, it was probably bullying.)

If you’re concerned that your child might have been bullied or cyberbullied but they aren’t talking about it

Start the conversation in a general way. Let them know you are there for them no matter what.

• I’ve noticed that you seem stressed/anxious/upset – has anything happened?
• I’ve noticed that you’re spending more time alone/on your phone/in your room – is there anything you want to talk about?
• Is there something going on at school that might be upsetting you?
• I’ve noticed that you don’t talk about your friend(s) anymore. Has anything happened?
• I’m here if there’s something you want to talk about.

If your child was bullied or cyberbullied

Stay calm. Ask them questions as the goal is to hear about their experience, provide support, and to help prevent it from happening again. Determine if you need to talk to the school about it. Try to understand if there is a power imbalance between the one who bullied and the one who was bullied. A power imbalance is not limited to physical strength. It is sometimes not easily recognized. Learn more about what to do when your child has been cyberbullied .

• Is there history between you? Have there been past conflicts?
• Has this happened before? Are you worried it will happen again?
• What will make you feel safer?
• This isn’t your fault. No one deserves to be bullied no matter what was said or done.
• Can I reach out to the school/teacher to talk to them about it?
• Can we come up with some things you can do if it happens again?

If your child bullied someone

Stay calm. Be open and listen. Ask questions. The goal is to help them learn from this and work through the reasons they did it so you can help them find other, healthy ways to deal with their feelings or situations that come up. You will also need to work with the school or parents to deal with it. Bullying is a behavior that can be changed. Your child will need help and support to learn new behaviors.

• What was going on for you when you did this?
• What were you thinking and feeling at the time?
• How do you feel about it now?
• How do you think the child you bullied felt?
• Looking back, are there other ways you could’ve handled this?
• Here are some other ways you could’ve handled it…
• Is this the first time you did this?
• Bullying is not ok. It’s important that we address this. If you were the one who had been bullied, what would you want to happen to make things better?
• I’ll help you deal with this to make things right.
• Thank you for talking to me about this. What I’ve learned is that you could use some help with… I will work on helping you/getting you help.

How to Talk to an Adult about Bullying – Tips for Youth

If you’ve been bullied, witnessed bullying, or bullied someone, you could use some support to deal with it. The first step is talking to a trusted adult about what you went through. This could be a parent, another family member, a friend’s parent, a teacher, coach, faith leader, or school counselor. Read some of the tips below to help you get started. Check out the videos for more examples .  

It may feel hard to start the conversation, and that’s ok

It’s ok to say so and talk about how you feel. For instance, you could say “Mom, I’m kind of scared to tell you this, but…” or “Something happened that really bothered me….” Or “It’s really hard to talk about this…” or “I’m afraid you’re going to be mad at me, but…”

If you know what you want from them, let them know

Tell them what you need from them in this situation. You could say “I just need someone to listen.” Or “I need help figuring out what to do.” Or “I don’t want you to talk to anyone about this. Just listen.”

If you don’t know what you want from them, just tell them what happened

You could say something like “Dad, something happened today…” or “I saw something today…” or “I did something today and I want to talk about it.” The most important thing is to talk to someone you trust about it. It’s ok if you blurt it out or don’t know what to say – just talk about it.

Persuasive Speeches: Bullying

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Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm.

Lachlan: How to deal with cyberbullying from eSafety Office on Vimeo .

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Bullying: what is it and how to stop it, how to prevent and deal with bullying..

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Watching your child experience the physical and emotional pain of bullying or cyberbullying is heartbreaking. 

Some parents are unsure where to begin to help protect their children from bullying and violence. Others may not know if their children are victims, bystanders or even perpetrators of harmful behaviours. 

Here are some tips on how to navigate bullying with your children.

Understand bullying How to prevent bullying How to deal with bullying  

What is bullying?

You can usually identify bullying through the following three characteristics: intent, repetition, and power. A person who bullies intends to cause pain, either through physical harm or hurtful words or behaviour, and does so repeatedly. Boys are more likely to experience physical bullying, while girls are more likely to experience psychological bullying.

Bullying is a pattern of behaviour, rather than an isolated incident. Children who bully usually come from a perceived higher social status or position of power, such as children who are bigger, stronger, or perceived to be popular.

The most vulnerable children face a higher risk of being bullied. These are often children from communities that are marginalized, children from poor families, children with different gender identities, children with disabilities or migrant and refugee children. 

Bullying can happen both in person or online. Cyberbullying often occurs over social media, SMS/text or instant message, email, or any online platform where children interact. Because parents may not always follow what their children are doing on these platforms, it can be difficult to know when your child is affected.

Why should I intervene if my child is being bullied?

Bullying can have harmful and long lasting consequences for children. Besides the physical effects of bullying, children may experience emotional and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety , that can lead to substance abuse and decreased performance in school.

Unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying can reach a victim anywhere, at any moment. It can cause profound harm, as it can quickly reach a wide audience and leave a permanent footprint online for all involved.

Your child has the right to a safe, nurturing school environment that respects their dignity. All children have the right to an education, and protection from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse. Bullying is no exception.

How can I help prevent bullying?

The first step to keeping your child safe, whether in-person or online, is making sure they know the issue. 

1. Educate your children about bullying

Once they know what bullying is, your children will be able to identify it more easily, whether it is happening to them or someone else. 

2. Talk openly and frequently to your children

The more you talk to your children about bullying, the more comfortable they will be telling you if they see or experience it. Check in with your children daily and ask about their time at school and their activities online, inquiring not only about their classes and activities, but also about their feelings.

3. Help your child be a positive role model

There are three parties to bullying: the victim, the perpetrator and the bystander. Even if children are not victims of bullying, they can prevent bullying by being inclusive, respectful and kind to their peers. If they witness bullying, they can stick up for the victim, offer support, and/or question bullying behaviours.

4. Help build your child’s self confidence

Encourage your child to enrol in classes or join activities they love in your community. This will also help build confidence as well as a group of friends with shared interests.

5. Be a role model 

Show your child how to treat other children and adults with kindness and respect by doing the same to the people around you, including speaking up when others are being mistreated. Children look to their parents as examples of how to behave, including what to post online. 

6. Be part of their online experience 

Familiarize yourself with the platforms your child uses, explain to your child how the online and the offline world are connected, and warn them about the different risks they’ll face online.

> Read: How to keep your children safe online

I’m not sure if my child is being bullied. What signs should I look out for?

Keep an eye on your child's emotional state, as some children may not express their concerns verbally. Signs to look out for include:

• Physical marks such as unexplained bruises, scratches, broken bones and healing wounds 
• Fear of going to school or joining school events
• Being anxious, nervous or very vigilant
• Having few friends in school or outside of school
• Losing friends suddenly or avoiding social situations
• Clothing, electronics or other personal belongings being lost or destroyed
• Often asking for money
• Low academic performance
• Absenteeism, or calling from school asking to go home
• Trying to stay near adults
• Not sleeping well and may be having nightmares
• Complaining of headaches, stomach aches or other physical ailments
• Regularly distressed after spending time online or on their phone (without a reasonable explanation)
• Becomes unusually secretive, especially when it comes to online activities
• Being aggressive or having angry outbursts

Talk to your children about what they think is good and bad behaviour in school, in the community and online. It is important to have open communication so that your children will feel comfortable telling you about what is happening in their lives.

> Read: 11 tips for communicating with your teen

What should I do if my child is being bullied or threatened?

If you know your child is being bullied, there are several steps you can take to help:

1. Listen to your child openly and calmly

Focus on making them feel heard and supported, instead of trying to find the cause of the bullying or trying to solve the problem. Make sure they know that it is not their fault. 

2. Reassure your child

Tell the child that you believe them; that you are glad they told you; that it is not their fault; that you will do your best to find help. 

3. Talk to the teacher or school 

You and your child do not have to face bullying alone. Ask if your school has a bullying policy or code of conduct. This may apply for both in-person bullying and online.

> Read: How to work with your child's school if they are being bullied

4. Be a support system

For your child, having a supportive parent is essential to dealing with the effects of bullying. Make sure they know they can talk to you at any time and reassure them that things will get better. 

What can I do if my child is bullying others?

If you think or know that your child is bullying other children, it’s important to remember that they are not inherently bad, but may be acting out for a number of reasons. Children who bully often just want to fit in, need attention or are simply figuring out how to deal with complicated emotions. In some cases, children who bully are themselves victims or witnesses to violence at home or in their community. There are several steps you should take to help your child stop bullying:

1. Communicate 

Understanding why your child is acting out will help you know how to help them. Are they feeling insecure at school? Are they fighting with a friend or sibling? If they are having trouble explaining their behaviour, you may choose to consult with a counsellor, social worker, or mental health professional who is trained to work with children. 

2. Work through healthy ways of coping 

Ask your child to explain a scenario that frustrated them, and offer constructive ways of reacting. Use this exercise to brainstorm possible future scenarios and non-harmful responses. Encourage your child to “put yourself in their shoes” by imagining the experience of the person being bullied. Remind your child that comments made online still hurt in the real world. 

3. Examine yourself 

Children who bully are often modelling what they see at home. Are they exposed to physically or emotionally harmful behaviour from you or another caregiver? Look inward and think honestly about how you are presenting to your child.

4. Give consequences and opportunities to make amends 

If you find out your child has been bullying, it is important to offer appropriate, non-violent consequences. This could be limiting their activities, especially those that encourage bullying (social gatherings, screen/social media time). Encourage your child to apologize to their peers and find ways for them to be more inclusive in the future.

> Read: How to work with your child's school if they are bullying others  

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Bullying informative speech.

1077 words | 4 page(s)

Hi, everyone! My name is Hong Shen and I am going to talk about Bullying which is a complex phenomenon that we seen in our society today. The main purpose of my talk today is to discuss about different forms of bullying and demonstrate that bullying has an impact on both victims and bystanders.

A recent statistic that is shown by America SPCC states that 1/3 students have been bullied at least once in their life and more than 7% of students have admitted to skipping school due to personal safety concerns. This means that as many as 160,000 children per day do not go to school because they are afraid of being bullied. ( ASPCC, 2017) Bullying is commonly defined as any form of aggressive behavior in which a perpetrator repeatedly acts in such a way to cause harm or discomfort to someone else. Victims of bullying typically have trouble defending themselves and do nothing to provoke perpetrators according to Wolke, Laraya in 2015. (Wolke, Leraya, 2015)

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Based on what I have witnessed with my own eyes, children who are not perceived as cool and normal are highly likely to be victimized both online and offline, and bystanders are reluctant to intervene for fear of being bullied. Despite health organizations’ efforts to sensitize the public to the devastating consequences of bullying, many children, adolescents and adults still see bullying as a perfectly normal rite of passage. However, numerous studies which have demonstrated that bullying can lead to various health problems, including depression, anxiety, frequent headaches, stomachaches, sleeping problems, suicidal thoughts and even suicidal tendencies in students from the middle school age to the college age. While non-intervention is a perfectly understandable coping strategy, available data indicates that bullying may have a profoundly negative impact on bystanders’ mental and physical health. It is only by gaining a deeper understanding of how bullying affects both victims and bystanders that we can motivate parents, educators and students to take active steps to tackle this widespread phenomenon.

Bullying is a complex phenomenon whose effects on both victims and bystanders are still being explored. Today, I am going to talk about four main types of bullying, Bullying has been found to have longterm mental and physical consequences, usually occurs when an individual is perceived as different. It is not uncommon for perpetrators to target racial minorities, homosexuals and disabled individuals. With available data clearly indicating that most bullying incidents go unreported (approximately 64%), it is evident that very little is being done to address this issue according to Pacer, 2017. (Pacer, 2017) Therefore, Bystanders’ intervention has been found to play a key role in discouraging perpetrators from harming others, which is why we should do more to prompt bystanders to deter bullying. Now, Let me start by defining bullying and exploring different types of bullying.

There exists four main types of bullying. First, is Physical bullying, such as hitting, pushing, kicking, stealing or damaging someone else’s property, tripping, slapping, pinching. Next, is Verbal bullying such as name calling, intimidation, verbal abuse, negative remarks about one’s racial or ethnic background, homophobic remarks, insults. Social bullying is another type of bullying. Some examples are like contemptuous looks, lying about someone else, spreading rumors about someone else, mimicking, mocking through physical gestures, encouraging social exclusion, damaging someone else’s social reputation. Lastly, is Cyberbullying. Some good examples are insulting, spreading rumors and / or damaging someone else’s social reputation via text messages, e-mail or online. Excluding others online, stealing someone else’s login credentials or pretending to be someone else online.

Now let’s examine the effects of bullying on victims’ mental and physical health in greater depth. Bullying has been found to have long-term mental and physical consequences. Students who experience bullying may withdraw from school and family activities, spend a considerable amount of time alone, experience insomnia and feel exhausted. According to Sansone & Sansone, Other consequences include constant tiredness and shyness. Psychological symptoms include anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and social difficulties. (Sansonse, Sansone, 2008)

Besides that, Bullying victims may experience poor appetite or engage in emotional eating. In addition to that, Bullying usually occurs when an individual is perceived as different. It is not uncommon for perpetrators to target racial minorities, homosexuals and disabled individuals. For instance, a study by Hwang et al. (2017) revealed that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are more likely to be bullied than community children. Furthermore, targeting students because of their differences, such as disabilities or appearances, can be a common occurrence.

My last point is Bullying has also been found to have a detrimental impact on bystanders’ physical and mental health. With available data clearly indicating that most bullying incidents go unreported (approximately 64%), it is evident that very little is being done to address this issue by Pacer in 2017. (Pacer, 2017) After witnessing a bullying incident, bystanders may feel guilty, powerless and anxious. For example, Bystanders’ fear of being next can trigger various physical and psychological symptoms, including:Psychological discomfort, anxiety, depression and Physical stress such as increased heart rate and perspiration. Therefore, victims and bystanders are both subject to the psychological implications of bullying as a whole. (Padgett, Notar, 2013) In conclusion, there are various forms of bullying and bullying has an impact on both victims and bystanders. Bullying affects all those who are involved. Bullying can happen for a number of reasons, with racial differences, disabilities, and sexual orientation often being the cause of targeting by aggressors. It can have a serious impact on the victims and the bystanders of the incident, and in itself, can leave lasting psychological problems for those involved. Bullying can happen to anybody, and students are likely to be exposed to it in some form during their lives. Studies show that a vast majority of people who witness bullying often choose not to act in accordance with helping the victim, which can lead to further damage. There is all about my speech today, Thank you

• America SPCC (2017). Bullying Statistics and Information. Retrieved from http://americanspcc.org/
• Hwang, S., Kim, H.S., Koh, Y. & Leventhal, B. (2017). Autism Spectrum Disorder and School Bullying: Who is the Victim? Who is the Perpetrator? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-14.
• Pacer (2017). Bullying Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.pacer.org/
• Padgett, S. & Notar, C. (2013). Bystanders are the Key to Stopping Bullying. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 1(2): 33-41.
• Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2008). Bully Victims: Psychological and Somatic Aftermaths. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 5(6), 62–64.
• Wolke, D., & Lereya, S. T. (2015). Long-term effects of bullying. Archives of Disease in Childhood

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LGBT Network gives youths a night to make noise against bullying, hate speech by smashing a wall

Teens spray paint a cinder block wall during the LGBT Network Night of Noise event in Hauppauge on Friday Credit: Barry Sloan

Jace Hunt, 11, of Bay Shore, took his turn with a can of spray paint to write hateful speech or names he had been called on a cinder block wall Friday night at the LGBT Network Hauppauge Center.

He spray painted the word “Hate.”

An hour later, he smashed the wall with a sledgehammer.

The shattering was part of the LGBT Network “Day of Silence/Night of Noise,” which gives LGBT youth a way to push back against bullying and the names or phrases they’ve been called in school or by other teens.

“It’s really cool for people like me to be here, in a place to be ourselves,” Jace said. “No one can judge me because we all share things in common. It’s nice we can express how we feel. Anyone who said they hate me to my face, I don’t care anymore because I can be myself.”

Friday night’s event is part of the annual Day of Silence to commemorate bullying and isolation LGBTQ students face. Traditionally, students practice silence before expressing themselves at night.

“This is a lifeline to kids to combat bullying and it’s something powerful for themselves, knowing they can break it and bullying doesn’t have to break them,” LGBT Network CEO Robert Vitelli said.

Before Jace took his swing at the wall, his mother said she brought him to the event to help him feel more accepted.

“As a parent, we’re always looking for resources for our children and a place to feel safe and be heard,” Angela Pharr said. “It’s heartbreaking to know the statistics and knowing he is being bullied. It feels good knowing he has people in his community who can understand what he’s going through.”

Vitelli noted the Day of Silence had waned in recent years because LGBTQ issues had become more widely known and the LGBTQ community had spoken up against prejudice.

Nine of 10 teens experienced bullying or anti-LGBTQ discrimination on a regular basis, Vitelli said. Teens can often drop out of school due to bullying and 20% to 30% of teens attempted suicide, Vitelli said. About 40% of teens may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with bullying, he said.

“Kids want to speak out and that’s the power of the Night of Noise. They should speak up and say that’s not OK,” Vitelli said. “This helps introduce a positive coping mechanism for kids to speak up and have a positive outlet.”

Among the messages written on the cinder block wall, several teens wrote gay slurs and other hate speech, along with common homophobic tropes like, “It’s just a phase,” and “I’ll change your mind.”

After sundown, the group of more than 30 teens took turns swinging the sledgehammer to chip away at the hate speech used to demean them.

Austin Groverman, 13, of Lake Grove, came to Friday night’s event with her father to celebrate acceptance in the LGBTQ community and push back against bullying.

“People may say things about me behind my back, but it’s still hurtful,” she said. “We’re part of a group that doesn’t hurt anyone and it’s hurtful when you haven’t done anything wrong.”

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John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.

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How an Arizona school's response to a perceived gun threat upended a 12-year-old's life

Geighe Garcia arrived at his elementary school in Winslow on a Friday last April to what he described as a flood of police cars. 

"It was just flooded with police officer cars," said Geighe, 13. "Just flooded all the way around."

Alarmed, he turned around and walked home.

"I was like, 'Hell no, dude, there must have been something really bad that's gone on,'" Geighe said. "I was scared. I thought somebody got shot or something." 

But when he got home and told his mom what happened — "I don't know what's going on; there's cop cars all around the school," he recalled saying — she repeated what she'd tried to tell him earlier that morning as he'd rushed out the door. 

"'Someone said that you were gonna shoot the school, Geighe,'" he recalled her saying.

That was April 14, 2023. In the year that followed, Geighe's life was turned upside down.

The threat Geighe was accused of making — by kids he said were bullying him — was not found credible. Still, he was excluded from months of in-person learning, including his first semester of middle school.

His experience offers a window into the pressure schools are under to take a hard line on perceived threats of gun violence — and the impact schools' reactions can have on students. 

Student's dream about school shooting leads to real-life accusations

On April 13, the principal of Geighe's school called the Winslow Police Department after a parent reported that Geighe had threatened to shoot students and staff. 

After receiving the call from the principal of Washington Elementary about 6:30 p.m., the police department sent officers to Geighe's house to speak with him and his mom, Consuelo Garcia. Geighe denied making threats against anyone and "stated he was talking about video games," according to the police report. 

Consuelo said she didn't get the impression the police visit was serious.

"The officers were so nonchalant about it," she said.

Consuelo told the officers they didn't have firearms, and the officers didn't ask to search the house for weapons, she said.

Consuelo and Geighe, she said, just spoke to officers outside, "and that was it."

"They had asked what happened earlier, if there was an incident earlier at school, and we were both like, 'No, nothing happened,'" Consuelo said. An officer then told them that there were concerns that Geighe had made a statement that he was going to harm teachers, to which Geighe responded that he didn't say anything like that, Consuelo recalled. 

The next day — the day of the flood of police cars outside the school  — officers went to Washington Elementary to speak with three students who said Geighe had made the threats. 

According to the police report, several of Geighe's schoolmates had been discussing a dream that one of them had about a shooting in their school. The student who had the dream indicated that the shooter looked like Geighe but didn't say his name. At the time, they were coming in from recess. 

Geighe, who had been standing nearby, then approached them and named a student and a teacher who would be first on his list if he were to shoot up the school, three students separately told officers from the Winslow Police Department. According to the police report, one of the students said they laughed it off at the time but "were weirded out." 

Guns at school: A boy bringing an assault rifle to high school shook this Phoenix district into action

The parent who reported the incident told police that she did not want Geighe to "get into any trouble" but rather thought he "needed some kind of help." When asked if she wanted to pursue charges, she declined. 

Geighe, who was 12 and in sixth grade at the time, denied making any of those comments. 

"I know it's not funny at all to say that you're going to shoot people," Geighe said in an interview with The Arizona Republic. "It's not cool at all." 

When he found out the students said he made those comments, "it felt like someone just threw me into prison, right then and there," he said. 

Principal recommends long-term suspension

Geighe was immediately given a nine-day out-of-school suspension and a thick packet of work to do at home. But he never completed it — he said it was work he had already done while he was at school, which frustrated him.

"I told myself … I'm not going to redo it because it makes no sense," he said.

During the nine-day suspension, Geighe and Consuelo were informed that a hearing would take place to put Geighe on a long-term suspension for violating the district's student conduct policy. 

The policy states that students "shall not engage in improper behavior," then lists examples of improper behavior, which include "threat of harm to any person on District owned or controlled property" and "conduct or speech that violates commonly accepted standards of the District and that, under the circumstances, has no redeeming social value." Any student that violates the policies "may be subject to discipline up to expulsion."

That policy mirrors the model policy provided by the Arizona School Boards Association, which offers advice to districts across the state. 

The Washington Elementary principal recommended to the district's superintendent that Geighe be given a 180-day suspension — the length of a full school year — citing eight previous write-ups during Geighe's time in the district that were labeled as "aggression" and stating that long-term suspension was necessary because he had made a threat about students and staff, according to a copy of the letter provided by Consuelo. 

In the letter, the principal also noted that Geighe worked with a paraprofessional at school to help with his emotional issues and added that Geighe had made several statements that year about issues he had with students and family. 

According to a discipline summary provided by Consuelo, Geighe's eight incidents labeled "aggression" were classified as minor aggressive acts. Each resulted in a detention, a warning or suspended privileges. All except one took place in 2018 or earlier, when Geighe was in kindergarten, first and second grade. The exception was at the beginning of fifth grade, more than a year and a half before the April incident.

Geighe acknowledged that he had disciplinary issues in the past, stemming from anger issues that came from problems at home and bullying at school, he said. He'd been working on it and thought things had been getting better: He had been attending counseling outside of school for about five years, and in fifth grade he started regularly volunteering at a nearby church packing food boxes. "I'm really glad I've changed," he said. 

"I had … thoughts of what would happen if I kept going down this road," Geighe said. "I told myself, 'What would this do to mom?' 'What would dad say?' What would grandma say?'" 

Consuelo said, "I think church had a lot to do with it, too."  

The students who alleged Geighe named a student and teacher he would shoot had been consistently bullying him for two years, he said.

"It's every day, constant," Geighe said. "They'd pick on everybody, but mostly it'd be me because I have anger issues, and they just always want to get a reaction out of me." 

"That's why I usually stay around teachers," Geighe said. "It's just constant bullying and bullying. And then as soon as I do anything about it, then I get in trouble somehow." 

He often visited the school's paraprofessional when he needed to cool down. There, he could do schoolwork, use stress toys and work on calming techniques like counting to 10, he said.

"He keeps it kind of dark, but he puts on a light in front of you. He's really nice about it. … It's actually really cool," Geighe said.

"It's just like a place to escape," he said. "He also does help you out a lot."

'Ill-advised comments': Conclusions reached about alleged threat

Consuelo was told in a letter dated April 24 that she had the right to obtain legal representation for Geighe's long-term suspension hearing, set for the morning of April 28. 

The letter requested Consuelo let the school know at least two working days before the hearing whether Geighe would be represented by counsel. "But I still don't know where I was supposed to get it from," Consuelo said. They went to the hearing without a legal advocate.

The hearing officer — who essentially plays the role of a judge  — acknowledged in his decision that Geighe, under oath, denied making any of the comments the students said he made, according to a copy of the hearing officer's letter provided by Consuelo. He also acknowledged that Geighe merely joined a conversation already in progress about a school shooting dream rather than initiating it. 

But he determined that it was "more likely than not" that Geighe had made the comments because he thought it unlikely that the students would have given separate statements to the police officer that were "strikingly similar" if they were untrue. 

Still, the hearing officer wrote in his decision that what Geighe was alleged to have said was likely not a credible threat. 

He cited the police report — the officer "stated in his report that no charges would be filed against Geighe, presumably because there was not sufficient credible evidence of an actual threat," he wrote.

"I would agree that it is more likely that Geighe might have made some ill-advised comments about the dream, rather than actually proposing a plan of his intent to harm others," the hearing officer continued. 

But he recommended Geighe be suspended for the rest of the school year and for "a period of time less than through the remainder of the 2023-24 school year."

The comments the other students alleged Geighe said were "inappropriate and resulted in student and parent unease, as well as a heightened police presence on campus after the incident," he wrote. "This demonstrates the seriousness with which school administrators must view real or perceived threats made to or about others on campus."

Due process for students 'isn't always clear,' legal expert says

All students who face suspension from public schools across the country are entitled to due process, according to Diana Newmark, an associate clinical professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. 

"But what that actually means isn't always clear," she said. State law usually provides more detailed information, but in Arizona, there are not many mandated requirements, she said.  

Arizona law requires school districts to provide notice and a hearing for any student suspended for more than 10 days and says that suspensions can only be imposed for "good cause." But how and why suspensions are given out often depends on policies established by a school district's governing board, Newmark said.

Newmark leads the Education Advocacy Clinic at the University of Arizona law school, which provides free counsel for students at suspension and expulsion hearings in the Tucson area. Usually, students in Arizona are allowed to be represented by counsel at disciplinary hearings, she said. But she said it can be difficult for families to find representation because of how quickly hearings happen.

"It's really enormously difficult for families to find an attorney who's available at short notice," Newmark said. If they can find someone, it's often hard for families to afford representation, she said.

School discipline hearings also are unlikely to have the hallmarks of due process that one might expect in a court of law. A hearing, for example, might be based entirely on hearsay, Newmark said.

"There might not actually be a witness to the events at the hearing who saw what happened or knew directly what happened," she said. 

In her experience, schools in Arizona typically don't identify who the witnesses are. "A student can't challenge, necessarily … if they don't even know who it is who's making an accusation," she said.

The hearing officer is also not necessarily a neutral party like a judge — they are often someone from within the school district, Newmark said. 

Winslow Unified officials said they do not comment on discipline of specific students, citing the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. But Jennifer Sanderlin, the administrative secretary to the superintendent and governing board, said the district takes alleged gun threats "extremely seriously."

Once a principal is notified, officials begin an investigation and inform the superintendent, a school resource officer or the local police department, according to Sanderlin. Students, staff and other involved parties are interviewed, and the principal "makes a plan of next steps." 

Washington Elementary's 2023-24 student handbook states that for the first incident of harassment or threats — along with verbal abuse, ethnic slurs, bullying and slander — the minimum discipline can be a detention, while the maximum can be a recommendation of expulsion. Threats are defined in the handbook as a "statement of action which intimidates or indicates future injury to another person." According to the handbook, "school threats" have a minimum discipline recommendation of a long-term suspension. 

Newmark said schools will sometimes impose suspensions for statements where there's no intent to harm anyone. 

"The question is really whether something is a true threat," she said. "Maybe it's a child or a teenager blowing off steam," making a bad joke or engaging in dark humor. 

Sometimes, she said, a school understands students aren't making a real threat of harm but still disciplines them.

"Schools are going to take potential threats of violence seriously," Newmark said. "They might respond with police presence or other security. And so, given this, schools might really be tempted to discipline a student who makes that kind of threatening statement even if there's no actual intent to harm anyone." 

'Just so hurtful': First semester of middle school lost to suspension

A couple of weeks after Geighe's long-term suspension began, Consuelo enrolled him in an online school she saw an ad for on Facebook. She didn't want him to fall behind, and the school district doesn't give work to students on a long-term suspension, according to Sanderlin, the Winslow Unified administrative secretary. Alternative in-person options were slim: aside from Winslow Unified, which is the only public school district in the city, there's one private Christian school.

But enrolling Geighe in online school broke Consuelo's heart, she said. It made her sad to think about what he would lose as he missed the in-person transition to middle school: sports, extracurriculars, field days, spirit weeks, more engagement with his classmates and teachers. "That's a big step up," she said. 

"For this opportunity to be taken from him and to be left with a computer in front of him is just so hurtful," Consuelo said. "It's not like he can get that back."

In October, she said it was a "struggle" to get Geighe out of bed in the morning to do his online schoolwork, whereas before, she would have no trouble waking him up for school. "There's no more light in his eyes for school anymore at all," she said. 

According to Newmark, a long-term suspension can affect a child in several ways, most immediately through lost learning opportunities and disengagement with the school community. There are also the pressures that having a child at home can have on parents and caregivers, she said. And research has consistently shown that "long-term suspensions and expulsions correlate with a host of negative life outcomes, like higher rates of incarceration and an overall lowered earning potential," she said. 

Geighe said that online school was "not that bad." It took up about 30 minutes of his day each day, and he spent his free time doing chores around the house, visiting his grandparents and playing basketball with his two closest friends at a nearby park after they got out of school.

But he said the online school was just giving him the basics. Consuelo agreed: "He's really smart. I think he needs to be challenged," she said. "He's not challenged with this online at all." 

And Geighe missed seeing teachers in person and having something to keep him busy. 

"I just like being there," he said in October. 

The school district agreed that Geighe could return in early January, roughly nine months after being suspended. 

As the start date crept closer, Geighe was nervous. After all, he would be starting at an entirely new school halfway through the seventh grade. 

"The other kids, they got a head start from me because I didn't go to the first day of school," he said. "I don't have the first day or the second day. I don't know where the bathrooms are. I don't know where anything is."

He worried that he might be held back and anticipated being crowded by classmates with questions about where he was, which he planned to respond to with a joke about having been out of the country. 

Still, he said, he was going to try his best. And he was excited, too. "I just want to be inside the school," he said. "I just like the new school feeling." 

'I really missed it': Back in school after nearly nine months away

The first few months of middle school were hard for Geighe — homework, especially. "All the kids, they had a preview," he said in early April. "They just threw me in."

And it was hard to see the kids he had issues with before he was suspended. He avoided them, he said. "I just tell them, 'Leave me alone,' because I'm not trying to get in another situation like this again," he said.

He missed a few days in March, which prompted a call from the school. He was exhausted and struggling to eat and sleep, but he didn't really know why. "I was really out of it," he said. "Stress, I guess." 

But by April, Geighe started feeling excited to go to school again. Homework was still hard, but he became comfortable asking his teachers questions at school. He started waking up on time by himself. He began attending tutoring twice a week after school, and he started volunteering weekly at church again. His favorite subjects are now math and science — he likes being challenged, he said. 

"I really missed it," he said. "I don't want to wake up at 12 o'clock all over again, every single day, for forever." 

Going to school "makes me feel really good," he said. 

"I still have to make a 100% recovery, but — my best guess — I'm at 50% at this point," he said. 

Reach the reporter at [email protected] .

3 Minute Speech On Cyberbullying In English

Good morning one and all. Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends, it is my pleasure and privilege to stand before you today. I am honored to have this opportunity to speak to such a distinguished audience.Today on this occasion, I would like to talk about the grim issue of cyberbullying that affects many people and scars them forever at times. 

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that is done on an online platform. The platform can be social media, messaging apps or even gaming platforms. The victims are bullied with threatening messages, photos and videos. Often the victim’s photos and videos are posted without their consent as a means to embarrass or humiliate them.

Cyberbullying can occur to anyone at any time. Since it does not require a real physical space, the victim can be harassed at any time. Sometimes, entire groups start posting negative comments and sending messages to the victim. The effects of cyberbullying can be drastic. All of this can lead to great damage to the victim’s mental health, confidence and self esteem.

In many cases cyber bullying has been found to be the cause for self harm and even suicide. The internet gives people the advantage of anonymity, however, many misuse this and think they have the freedom to do anything without facing its consequences.

This misconception has led to an increase in cyberbullying. In order to prevent and control cyberbullying, it is essential to send out the message that bullying regardless of where it is happening is not okay. There will be consequences of such reckless actions for both sides, the perpetrators as well as the victims.

It is important to aware everyone of the effects that cyberbullying has on the victims and the punishment that impacts the perpetrators. We also need to build a safe space for victims to speak out and seek help. They should be made comfortable and it should be made known to them that they are not alone. 

As a society, we need to step up and take actions so that no life is lost because of cyberbullying. The internet should be made safe for everyone and no should fear using it. Thank you. 

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Trans man bullied further after X shares takedown notice over alleged hate speech

Watchdog said post was found to mock his gender identity and equated transgender identity with a psychiatric condition

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When the social media site X was told to take down cyber abuse by Australia’s internet regulator, it passed on the notice to the user who posted the alleged abuse – which led to its target facing more online bullying.

On 22 March, eSafety sent a notice to X, formerly Twitter, requesting that a tweet from 29 February posted by a prominent anti-trans user about an Australian trans man who is a leading LGBTQ+ health expert be taken down.

The regulator said it should be removed on the grounds it was in breach of Australia’s online safety act. It was determined to be cyber abuse directed at an Australian adult, given it was found to misgender him, mock his gender identity and equated transgender identity with a psychiatric condition.

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The user who posted the tweet in question shared the letter on his account to his over 400,000 followers and said in the replies that he had received a copy of the letter from X.

The first tweet in the thread has had over 2m impressions, according to X’s metrics, with some of the nearly 1,000 replies targeting the person who complained to eSafety about the tweet.

On 30 March, X’s global government affairs account confirmed it was blocking access to the tweet in Australia and would fight the notice.

“X is withholding the post in Australia in compliance with the order but intends to file a legal challenge to the order to protect its user’s right to free speech.”

The same user later posted a screenshot of the original tweet from the takedown letter, and that screenshot has not been removed from access in Australia.

A spokesperson for the eSafety commissioner said the type of content falling under the online abuse scheme must be both intended to cause serious harm and menacing, harassing or offensive in all circumstances.

“If the material only meets one of these two criteria, for example, if the post is offensive but is found to not be intended to cause serious harm, it will not be considered adult cyber abuse under the act,” the spokesperson said.

“Importantly, the adult cyber abuse scheme does not regulate hurt feelings, purely reputational damage, bad online reviews, strong opinions or banter.”

No fine has yet been issued and eSafety had not received any legal notices from X related to the notice since announcing it was planning legal action, Guardian Australia understands.

Under the adult cyberbullying scheme that was passed into law under the former Coalition government in 2021 , platforms such as X can be fined close to $800,000 for failing to remove posts within 24 hours of the notice being received.

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Such formal notices are rarely issued, and not limited to X. In the past two financial years, eSafety reported it had issued five such formal notices to platforms.

In the 2022-2023 financial year alone, the regulator said it had received 2,644 complaints from adults regarding cyber abuse and made 601 informal requests to platforms seeking the removal of such material, with 466 of these cases resulting in material being removed.

David Sharaz, the partner of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins used the scheme in 2022 to get a tweet taken down targeting both he and Higgins, Guardian Australia reported last year . This occurred prior to Elon Musk purchasing the platform in November 2022.

While X has vowed to fight the notice to protect the user’s free speech and fight the removal, users last month noticed that using “cisgender” in some tweets results in the platform reducing the visibility of that tweet, claiming it is in violation of the platform’s hateful conduct policy.

Musk tweeted last year that cisgender, a 30-year-old term to describe someone whose gender corresponds to their sex assigned at birth, as “a heterosexual slur”, despite the term also being applicable to non-heterosexual people. “Cis” is derived from Latin, meaning “on this side of”, as in the opposite of trans.

Guardian Australia sought comment from X. The platform last year lodged a case in the federal court appealing a $610,000 eSafety fine notice issued to the company over how it tackles online child safety abuse. Esafety has also lodged a case in the court over X’s failure to pay the fine. The case has yet to be heard.

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Politics latest: Tories' Rwanda bill defeated for fourth time in Lords; Sunak and Netanyahu hold phone call

Rishi Sunak's smoking ban passes convincingly on second reading, despite high-profile Tory MPs voting against it - while his Rwanda bill is defeated again. Meanwhile, the PM holds a telephone call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 22:13, UK

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• Rwanda bill heading back to Commons on Wednesday after government suffers fourth defeats in Lords
• Government wins vote on smoking ban despite opposition from ministers | Who voted against?
• Jon Craig:  Sunak will be hope the Tory rebellion doesn't mean he's at the fag end of his premiership
• Sunak tells Netanyahu that 'calm heads should prevail' as pair finally speak
• Number 10 criticises 'extremely disturbing' bid to shut down National Conservatism conference by Brussels police
• Farage - who addressed event - speaks out
• Darren McCaffrey: Crackdown only helps cancel culture cause espoused by NatCon attendees
• Live reporting by Ben Bloch and (earlier)   Faith Ridler

Over a year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.

The prime minister met his promise to halve inflation by the end of 2023.

But with the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering his other promises?

You can see the progress for yourself below:

Earlier this evening, Rishi Sunak's bill to ban young people from ever being able to smoke passed its first Commons hurdle.

The government is claiming this as a big win - but was it really?

Just 178 Conservative MPs voted in favour of the bill out of 347 - barely half of the parliamentary party.

A number of sitting ministers voted against it, including:

• Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch;
• Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker;
• Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart;
• Science minister Andrew Griffith;
• Digital minister Julia Lopez;
• Housing minister Lee Rowley.

Much of the right of the party voted against it, including party deputy chair Jonathan Gullis, ex-PM Liz Truss, high-profile ex-minister Robert Jenrick, former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, among many others.

Also notable were the abstentions, with 106 Tory MPs not casting a vote either way - including leader of the House Penny Mordaunt.

It was a free vote, meaning the Tory high command did not tell its MPs how to vote either way. But there is a clear split within the party.

Meanwhile, not a single one of the 201 Labour MP went against the party's instructions to vote against the bill. But 40 did abstain, however.

"Absolutely nuts" was how former prime minister Boris Johnson described Rishi Sunak's plan to gradually phase out smoking – banning anyone born since the start of 2009 from ever being able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products like vapes.

Liz Truss, who was also briefly prime minister in between the two men, is also among some critical of the proposal – which she described as "profoundly un-conservative".

Tories were given a free vote in the Commons – allowing them to vote with their conscience, not necessarily the government.

But will the policy create a smoke-free generation? And what will it mean for Conservative Party ideology?

Niall Paterson looks at the health implications with Alice Wiseman, vice president of The Association of Directors of Public Health, and the politics of the policy with Sky's political editor Beth Rigby and Tory peer Lord Frost, who disagrees with the planned legislation.

👉 Listen above then tap here to follow the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Rishi Sunak has been badly burned by a Commons rebellion by nearly 60 Tory MPs who voted against his flagship Tobacco and Vaping Bill.

When Commons deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing called the vote just before 7pm, the rebels on the Conservative back benches made a lot of noise screaming "No!"

And minutes later, it was revealed that their rebellion was not only noisy, but also a defiant show of strength by the mutinous Tory Right that will leave the PM and his allies gasping.

In an ominous but entirely predictable warning shot to the PM, the list of rebels included a roll call of the Right-wing contenders for the Tory crown, both serving and former Cabinet ministers.

Topping the list of leadership candidates desperate to please those party activists was Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, who never misses an opportunity to play to the Tory gallery.

Next was the equally ambitious Robert Jenrick, who also voted against the bill, while Penny Mordaunt, another darling of the activists, appears to have abstained.

Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, dashed back from a controversial conference of Right-wingers in Brussels so she could fire her latest salvo against Mr Sunak.

But the most high-profile and public rebel during the six-hour debate was former prime minister Liz Truss, who made a speech lashing out at "virtue-signalling" and "finger-wagging, nannying control freaks".

The Tory high command will claim that strictly speaking it wasn't a rebellion, because it was a free vote for Conservative MPs, though critics of the PM claimed that was a sign of weakness by the dithering Mr Sunak.

But several government ministers were among the MPs voting against the bill, including Steve Baker, Alex Burghart, Andrew Griffith, Julia Lopez and Lee Rowley. Anne-Marie Trevelyan abstained.

And in a move which will have no doubt emboldened many would-be rebels, the Tories' backbench shop steward, 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, was among those voting against the bill.

Liz Truss's closest allies also rebelled with her, including her former party chairman Sir Jake Berry, ex-ministers Sir Simon Clarke, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Sir Alec Shelbrooke and Craig Whittaker, who was her deputy chief whip.

Two current Tory deputy chairmen, Brendan Clarke-Smith and Jonathan Gullis, both noisy 2019 Red Wallers, and their even noisier mate Lee Anderson, now in Reform UK, also voted against the bill.

The 67 MPs voting against the bill, plus the two tellers, also included seven Democratic Unionist MPs and the former cigar smoking firebrand George Galloway, who won the Rochdale by-election earlier this year.

The motive of all the rebels? Well, to be fair, many of them genuinely loathe what they call the nanny state and many claim the bill is un-Conservative.

But those leadership contenders' motives go far beyond that. Theirs were all about telling the party membership: "I'm on your side. If you vote for me, I'll uphold true Conservative values."

As for the PM, who hopes this public health legislation will be his legacy to a grateful nation, he'll be hoping the size of the Tory rebellion doesn't mean he's at the fag end of his premiership."

After the government's bill to stop young people ever smoking passed its first hurdle in the House of Commons, Labour's shadow health secretary spoke to broadcasters with his party's view.

Wes Streeting said Labour has "led the debate on phasing out smoking in our country and making sure this generation of children and young people grow up in a smoke-free Britain".

He said: "It is thanks to the votes of Labour MPs we got this measure through the House of Commons today because of the size of the Conservative rebellion."

"Labour is proud not to play politics on the vote. We will get this bill through as quickly as possible. So let's get our skates on, get it through the Commons, get it through the Lords and get it under the statute book."

He pledged that Labour will implement the ban if it forms the next government.

Mr Streeting also said the government has been "slow to act" on the "explosion in the number of children and young people vaping", which he said will have "serious consequences" for the health, and also for their education as "kids are skipping school to go and vape".

By Becky Johnson , communities correspondent

Immigration enforcement staff have had their leave cancelled as the government hopes its plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda will become law this week.

Speaking to Sky News, Lucy Moreton from the ISU, the union for borders, immigration and customs, said the staff who will be expected to arrest and remove people still know very little about how they will be expected to force people on to planes.

She said immigration enforcement officers have had all leave cancelled for six weeks, beginning the week after next.

Initially, they had been told leave was cancelled from next week but that has been delayed.

Read the full story here:

The IMF is reporting that the UK economy is going to be growing less than expected this year, and we asked Labour's Jonathan Ashworth how concerned he is about the statement of the economy.

He said growth has been "anaemic", and blamed the Conservatives for the cost of living crisis.

"And then today you've got Liz Truss parading around the studios, asking people to congratulate her for the action she took."

"But the serious point is that the Conservatives haven't learned the lesson. In Liz Truss's book, she's talking about abolishing national insurance. That's exactly the policy. Rishi Sunak has adopted."

Sophy Ridge pointed out that it is a long-term ambition, and he replied that he has not yet explained how he will fund it.

"He's got to explain how he's going to fund a £46bn commitment to get rid of National Insurance. Is it borrowing, putting pressure on mortgages? Is it cuts, the NHS, the state pension, or is it more tax for pensioners?

"Until he explains that, people can conclude he's making exactly the same mistakes that Liz Truss made."

As we reported earlier today, a local mayor in Belgium ordered the police to shut down the National Conservatism conference, which was being attended by Reform UK's honorary president Nigel Farage and former home secretary Suella Braverman.

We asked Labour's Jonathan Ashworth if the police were right to shut the event down, and he replied: "Well, I'm a great believer in freedom of speech. And obviously I'll be interested to hear from the relevant authorities from Brussels what their justification was for shutting down the event."

But he went on to say that scheduled to speak at the event were "pretty unsavoury, very hardline extremist characters, people who have criticised equal marriage, for example, people who have been involved with white supremacist organisations".

Labelling Rishi Sunak "weak", Mr Ashworth said: ""Why is Suella Braverman palling around with these very hardline extremist people? And why isn't Rishi Sunak stepping in to do something about it?"

"He should perhaps even think about taking the whip off her."

He refused to say if the authorities were right to shut the event down, saying "it's a different country", but noting it would have gone ahead here in the UK.

Many Conservative MPs, and even some ministers, have spoken out in opposition to the government's bid to stop young people ever smoking, saying it is an attack on personal freedom.

We asked public health minister Dame Andrea Leadsom for her response, and she said: "The vast majority of Conservative colleagues are supporting it or abstaining on it, seeing how the bill progresses."

She added that the bill was "absolutely not finger-wagging control freakery", saying: "Once you're addicted to nicotine, your freedom of choice is completely gone."

"A freedom-loving, choice-loving individual would choose to allow children to be free from the addiction to nicotine."

We've just had reaction from public health minister Dame Andrea Leadsom to the legislation designed to stop young people ever smoking passing in the House of Commons.

She told Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge : "I'm really pleased actually."

She noted that it was a free vote and it "passed on Conservative numbers".

"It's great news for the prime minister's top priority," she said, saying the legislation was about "free[ing]" young people from nicotine addition.

Vaping is not being banned outright in the bill, and Sophy put to the minister that new research showed vaping could be almost as harmful as smoking over the long run.

She replied: "The fact is that there are six million smokers and many of them, you know, a majority, vast majority of them would love to be able to stop or wish they'd never taken up smoking in the first place.

"And the best quit aid that we have is of course switching from smoking to vaping."

She also hailed the powers in the bill to "be able to restrict flavours, packaging, to put vapes behind the counter" in order to stop vapes being attractive to children.

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