Middle School Basketball Players See What's Happening In Stands, Walk Off Court (Video)
By Timfly
A Kenosha, Wisconsin, cheerleader with Down syndrome was bullied by the audience during a basketball game. Now, three Lincoln Middle School basketball players are coming to her defense (video below).
During the basketball game, Miles Rodriguez, Chase Vasquez and Scooter Terrien witnessed fans bullying Desiree Andrews, and the three decided to do something about it, reported The Week.
Chase told TMJ4 in Milwaukee, “The kids in the audience were picking on D, so we all stepped forward.”
More players rallied to support Desiree, an eighth-grader.
“We were mad. We didn’t like that. We asked our sports director to talk to the people and tell them not to make fun of her,” 14-year-old Miles told Kenosha News.
Since the bullying incident, the boys have befriended Desiree and often walk her to class. They now call the gymnasium "Dee’s House."
Desiree’s father, Cliff Andrews, said that he broke down in tears when he thanked the basketball players for their act of kindness. Desiree called the gesture “sweet, kind, awesome, amazing.”
Andrews says Desiree’s interest in cheerleading stems from the popular Fox TV show, “Glee”. "They have a character with Down syndrome who is a cheerleader," he explained to the Kenosha News. "And she said, ‘If she can be a cheerleader, I can be a cheerleader.’”
Following the event, school spirit at Lincoln Middle School has increased, with kids centering on inclusion and kindness, according to the New York Daily News. Desiree is now part of the starting lineup introduction. She high-fives and fist bumps all the players before the game.
"It's not fair when other people get treated wrong, because we're all the same,” said Scooter. “We're all created the same; God made us the same way."
Sources: The Week, TMJ4, Kenosha News, New York Daily News / Photo source: TMJ4 via New York Daily News
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