Houston (TX) – Last week, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) called for the proactive involvement of parents, students, teachers and officials to prevent school violence. This was in response to an incident that took place on April 27 at Thurgood Marshall High School where a female student was beaten by one of her peers in the presence of other classmates.

The incident occurred at the end of the school day and was recorded. The images show a female student repeatedly hitting another female student in the face using a sock in which, according to news reports, there was a padlock. Both students are sophomores and one required medical attention.

Thurgood Marshall High School is part of the Fort Bend Independent School District, located in an area that Congressman Green represents in the U.S. House of Representatives. While participating in a press conference to denounce violence in our schools, the Congressman called for the community as a whole to be more conscious of the importance of preventing this kind of violence.

"We cannot continue to react,” Congressman Green said. “Many times, reaction means somebody has already been hurt. School safety is everyone's responsibility."

He also emphasized the need to end the silence and stop the violence by reporting potential acts of violence to prevent harm and save lives.

"Too many children know an incident is imminent yet don't want to report it and be labeled as a snitch. Parents must teach them that if they want to be safe, they must report potential acts of violence," Congressman Green said.

Congressman Green encouraged students and their families to contact Houston’s Student Crime Stoppers Hotline (281-491-8477) to anonymously report concerns about safety in their school and TalkLine (281-240-8255), a 24/7 crisis hotline for students.