Family’s parade against bullying

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/ WMGT) – Bullying is a problem many children face across the county. One 11-year-old girl says, she’s done with being picked on.

“I didn’t want to go to school, and I wanted to die,” Ashley Gorton said.

For Ashley’s last day of 6th grade, her parents wanted to remind her how loved she is. By coordinating a mini parade with friends and strangers to escort her to school.

“Started out as just a few friends getting together to bring my daughter to school on motorcycles to show her a little bit of support,” her father Todd Gorton said.

Ashley was diagnosed with Asperger’s in kindergarten. 3rd grade is when name calling and harsh words began.

“It’s not the ‘gimme your lunch money or I’ll beat you up.’ It’s the, get under your skin, tease at you every day, call you names,” he said.

“If you gotta pick partners, she’s definitely going to be the last to be picked,” her mother Amy Gorton said.

“In 5th grade, it was really bad. We thought it would be done, but it wasn’t,” Ashley said.

Her parents are asking for teachers, everywhere, to be more aware of the signs of bullying. And for parents to:

“Get involved. Find out what your kids are doing online. Ask your kids, whats going on at school. Ask if anyone’s being picked on because they can be saving someone’s life,” her mother said.

“When it’s happening, even if it’s a teacher, just tell them immediately so you can stop this,” Ashley said.