CBS 5 - KPHO Bullying of mascot has Anthem residents upset

Bullying of mascot has Anthem residents upset

It is not an easy job standing on the side of a road with a sign advertising lunch specials dressed as a Disney character; however, 20-year-old Johnathan Juliano enjoys the waives and smiles he gets back from customers. The problem is a few days ago the costume caught the attention of some high school bullies.

"One of them tried to steal my sign, and they were hitting me on the back of my head," said Juliano.

However, Juliano said it did not end there. The next day, the boys asked him to pose for a picture near a pond.

"He stepped forward and pushed me into the water," said Juliano.

Juliano was not physically hurt, but the bullying still took its toll.

"It is stupid. I have dealt with this since I was a little kid, I have always been just a little bit different," said Juliano.

Diagnosed with aspergers, Juliano said being picked on is normal, but this recent event has been different.

"I have actually been really surprised by how supportive the community has been, I'm not really used to people sticking up for me to be completely honest," said Juliano.

After hearing about the attack the community has rallied around Mr. Gyros, the restaurant where Juliano works.

 "We were just heart broken that this happened in our community and we wanted to show our support, so we came out for lunch today," said Katie Andersen, a customer.

"We are getting a lot of support coming in from the neighborhood, people bring in cards, get well cards, we get maybe five or six calls an hour," said Ben Oraha, owner of the Mr. Gyros.

Around school, students said the bullies are now the ones feeling like outcasts, and even friends of theirs were shocked by what they did.

"That is disgusting to me, a lot of people are disgusted," said Audrey Rondeau, a Boulder Creek High School student.

"I think that they took it overboard, and like I do not think that they should have done what they done, but like everyone makes mistakes," said Thane Wadams, a Boulder Creek High School student.

Because the teens involved in this are all minors, CBS 5 News is choosing not to use their names. According to Juliano, he is pressing charges for assault and criminal damage, but he said overall he is not holding a grudge.

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