SIOUX CITY, IA -
It's been in the works for years, and parts of it were even filmed right here in Sioux City.
Now the documentary "Bully" is in movie theaters across the country, and the timing couldn't be better following the death of a northwest Iowa teen who killed himself after being bullied. There were plenty of Siouxland residents at the premiere at Sioux City's Promenade Cinema who had their own bullying experiences to share.
Spinteerella Neal was bullied right here in Sioux City.
"Basically, this girl just comes up to me, starting stuff with me, calling me names, and slamming my hand into the lockers and everything," Neal said.
She says her school punished the girl who bullied her and put an end to it. That's why Neal and her family decided to see this movie. Spinteerella's mom, Latonya thinks everyone should see it.
"It's very emotional, your gonna cry and cry and cry, I'm glad that it's here, we've got to get something done about it, we've got to be proactive. Students, parents, teachers, principles, I mean everybody needs to get involved, the community, we've got to get something done about this," said Latonya Dotson.
The documentary is creating a lot of attention around the bullying topic, so much that students at East High wanted to send a message of their own.
"I will not stand silent as others try to spread hatred through my community."
Students pledged to stand up for their friends, and their fellow classmates to fight against bullying in Sioux City and across America.
"It takes that one person to stand up, and that can change, someone else will see that and they'll take the initiative to stand up, and it'll just be a chain reaction," said Christina Hackbart, a Junior at East High.
They stood in silence for seven seconds, because every seven seconds a child is bullied in America.
"I think it's important for those kids to know that there is a support system here, they just need to know who to go to, because there are people who love and care about you," said Grace Rants, another Junior at East High.
Then they let their balloons fly free, sending their message that could be seen from miles away.
Here's some startling facts from the documentary: 13 million children will be bullied this year alone in the U.S.; and another 3 million children are absent each month because they don't feel safe in their own school.
The Bully documentary website has a hotline, if you do feel like you need to speak with somebody, that number is 1-855-201-2121.
