Mohawk student: "Never thought it would happen to me"

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By EMMA WRIGHT

Story Created: Aug 20, 2009 at 11:51 AM EDT

Story Updated: Aug 28, 2009 at 6:57 AM EDT

MOHAWK, N.Y. (WKTV) - Robert Sullivan and his son Jacob, are suing the Mohawk Central School District because they say school officials didn't protect Jacob from harassment.

They say for two years, Jacob was relentlessly harassed by his classmates, even a teacher, at the Gregory B. Jarvis Junior/Senior high School, because he is gay.

In a phone conversation with WKTV, Robert Sullivan and Jacob say they're shocked and angry the harassment has escalated to the point of taking legal action.

"I've heard stories about bullying," Jacob said. "But never thought it would ever happen to me. I don't know anymore."

Jacob says he is afraid to go back to school. He says in June another student pulled a knife on him in Spanish class and threatened to hang him from a flagpole.

His father, Robert Sullivan, says he is very upset with Mohawk Valley School District, he says school officials didn't do enough to stop the harassment.

"I always thought the school was safe," Robert Sullivan said. "They've done nothing to protect my son. Nothing to stop all the stuff that's going on."

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