Like many people, I was saddened by the death of Harambe, the gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo. I was further disheartened by the attacks on the mother of the toddler. She was especially vilified on social media — before the facts emerged, of course.

Similarly, the families involved in the lawsuit against the Vashon Island School District are being demonized on social media and in their community. These families are being bullied.

Some of the recent letters to the editor have been accusatory and hateful. In a letter two weeks ago, the parents were referred to as ‘…people like this…’ (“Settling with plaintiffs will be admission of guilt for something that didn’t happen,” June 8). That can be read as ‘these people/you people…,’ a loaded term inviting disrespect.

The author of that same letter assumes that the families have not also supported the Vashon schools for years. To presume their motive is financial is downright insulting to them. It implies the parents must be masochistic and abusive to their children. The students and families are being ostracized, maligned and they are suffering. This lawsuit was an action of last resort, after many attempts were made to get action on these issues.

Even now, we seem to have an easier time attacking the families than addressing the issues of bullying and harassment.

I am happy the letter writer’s son was not harassed at school, but to use this as proof against the validity of the lawsuit is like saying, “I walk down this street every day and I’ve never been mugged, therefore that mugging victim must be lying.”

Lastly, I worked at the Vashon Library for years and I got close to the students, especially when I worked Late Night For Teens. Not a year passed that at least one student did not confide in me about harassment at school. Let’s take our blinders off and face the facts and start discussing the real issues underlying this lawsuit.

These families need support, not vehement attacks on their motives and integrity.

— Morgan Ahern