Attorney General Seeks Injunction

The state Attorney General's office is seeking an injunction against six Cambridge Rindge and Latin School students who allegedly taunted a Chinese-American girl with racial slurs and then assaulted her in Harvard Yard in March.

The complaint, filed in Middlesex Superior Court Wednesday by the office's civil rights division, has per-plexed the Cambridge Public Schools administration, which thought the case was closed.

According to James Ball, director of public information for the district schools, three of the alleged attackers have already been disciplined by Cambridge Rindge and Latin.

"This office will respond aggressively to any person who allegedly targets individuals for attack and harassment because of their race and national origin," Attorney General Scott Harshbarger said in a statement released Wednesday. "Those who engage in such conduct will face substantial penalties."

On March 20, 1995, six students allegedly followed the victim up Broadway Street to the Yard, taunting her in racially derogatory terms, then beating her, according to the Attorney General's office.

Names of the victim and alleged attackers are being withheld because they are all minors, according to Harshbarger's office.

The victim reportedly suffered a bloody nose, and many bruises, bumps and scratches. She was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome.

If granted, the preliminary injunction would prohibit the defendants from further assaulting, harassing, threatening or intimidating the alleged victim or anyone else in the state on the basis of race and/or national origin.

Violation of the injunction could result in stiffer fines, up to $10,000 and up to ten years in prison, in the case of a repeat incident.

The Cambridge schools' Ball said he has not yet seen a copy of the recently filed complaint.

"I have no knowledge of the particular injunction, and I wouldn't comment on that until I see the filing," Ball said.

Ball said, however, that he was surprised the Attorney General's office has become involved in the case.

"The request for an injunction was a total surprise to us," said Ball. "As far as I can tell we're not involved in it; we're not a party. Several students involved in the alleged incident are no longer here, including the victim."

Ball also noted that the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office held a view different from the attorney general.

"Middlesex County DA's office thought there was no racial motivation at all," said Ball.

Middlesex County District Attorney's office spokesperson John Towle, however, said he was not aware of any involvement his office had in the case.

Ball said the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School has not planned any new advising programs to keep such events from occurring in the future.

"We're very concerned about anything concerning our students," he added. "It happened off school property, after school. Two thousand students leave the school and walk in all directions.

Ball also noted that the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office held a view different from the attorney general.

"Middlesex County DA's office thought there was no racial motivation at all," said Ball.

Middlesex County District Attorney's office spokesperson John Towle, however, said he was not aware of any involvement his office had in the case.

Ball said the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School has not planned any new advising programs to keep such events from occurring in the future.

"We're very concerned about anything concerning our students," he added. "It happened off school property, after school. Two thousand students leave the school and walk in all directions.