6 Massachusetts 8th graders criminally charged for holding mock slave auction of black students on Snapchat.
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SOUTHWICK, Mass. — Six eighth graders have been criminally charged for their alleged roles in using Snapchat to set up a “mock slave auction” and direct hateful and racist comments towards Black students, the district attorney said Thursday.
The students, whose names were not released because they are juveniles, are reportedly 13 and 14 years old.
All six juveniles were charged with threats to commit a crime, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said. Two of the juveniles were also charged with interference with civil rights, and one of those juveniles is also facing an additional charge of witness interference.
The middle school students were charged “for their alleged roles in facilitating and participating in hateful racist online chat that included heinous language, threats and a mock slave auction,” Gulluni said.
State police detectives assigned to his office began investigating last month after learning of the allegations, Gulluni said.
Late in the evening of Feb. 8 and into the early morning of Feb. 9, multiple juveniles took part in a group chat on Snapchat that was created by eighth grade students in Southwick, Gulluni said.