Grieving Community Stages Demos Against Bullying

After Glenelg student Grace McComas, 15, killed herself on Easter Sunday, her friends began a movement called "Blue4Grace" in which they wore blue at her wake to take a stand against bullying.

Grace's parents said she was harassed online for months, according to The Baltimore Sun.

"Can children not take a minute and realize they’re killing each other over petty things?" wrote one commenter on the Blue4Grace page.

Students at  took more than a minute on Tuesday. Time stood still between second and third periods as they collectively paused during what is called a "freeze mob" while the song "Lean on Me" played.

In Laurel, advocates have created being bullied or who are bullies learn ways to avoid the action.

The demonstration is one of several events in Howard County over the next two weeks to combat bullying.

• On Wednesday, students will wear white to "white out" bullying.
• Also on Wednesday, the makers of Finding Kind, a documentary about bullying, will be in attendance at  for a screening from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
• On Thursday, the PTA Council of Howard County is hosting a forum at the . to discuss technology and bullying and the school system's bullying policy.
• Also on Thursday, the director for Student Services will present a report to the on the school system's policies and initiatives around mental health. The report is attached to this article as a PDF.

, 16, of Long Reach High School, died March 31, a week before McComas took her life. There was nothing connecting his death to bullying.