Alumni Rally In Support Of La Puente Students After Hazing Allegations
LA PUENTE (CBSLA.com) — Former students of La Puente High School held a rally on Monday in support of students who were allegedly sexually assaulted by a soccer coach.
KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas reports the allegations have rocked the campus and let students and faculty stunned.
Podcast
Participants carrying signs and wearing the school colors of orange and black marched at La Puente Park before making their way to the high school, where four upperclassmen were arrested last week on charges of hazing and sexually assaulting new teammates on the varsity soccer team.
An attorney for the victims said coach Bahram Alavi was aware that four freshman were allegedly sodomized with a javelin in a closet near his office.
But the rally on Monday was aimed at encouraging the rest of the student body to face the startling allegations in order to heal as a school.
"The most important thing to know is that it was not your fault," said alumni Theresa Prato. "You didn't do anything to cause this, you didn't make this happen, something bad happened to you, but don't let it define you the rest of your days."
The students accused in the hazing incident have been released to their parents.
Alavi is currently on administrative leave pending an ongoing investigation.
