Health and Human Needs Committee approves anti-bullying resolution in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- An effort to clamp down on student harassment clears its first hurdle.

A Milwaukee County Board Committee gave the green light to a plan declaring October “Bullying Prevention Month” in the county.

On Wednesday, the Health and Human Needs Committee approved the anti-bullying resolution unanimously.

Three different community members shared with the committee how bullying is dangerous and a problem in Milwaukee.

Tracey Dent is one of the co-authors of the resolution. He’s a concerned parent who says his own daughter has been bullied at school. He says this needs to stop.

“I ask ‘Why, why are they picking on you?’ and she’ll say ‘because of the way I look’ or the way she talks,” says Dent.

“When you can bring attention to bullying and people who have been bullied speak out about it and people who have compassion for those that have been victimized, say ‘hey this isn’t okay,’ we can be better and have a better standard for this in our society. It brings attention to the issue.

In order to go into effect, the resolution will have to next be approved by the county board of supervisors next Thursday.