#ImWithShea: STAND UP & AND STOP STANDING BY! #BRAVE #MyWANA

Welcome back to Through Stephanie's Eyes. The last time we visited together I shared a video I found on Facebook that literally brought me to my knees. The bullying depicted in the video led to the child attempting suicide. Of course the video was a dramatization depicting a "what if" scenario, but the actions were very real. That type of tormenting does occur on a daily basis and is getting out of hand.

It horrifies me to see more and more of these type of stories in the news. Just within the last few weeks two Florida teens were arrested for their part in the vicious cyberbullying that lead to the suicide of one of their classmates. Now another beautiful young woman is being harassed mercilessly by other students and strangers because she's different. 

Shea Shawhan is an 18 year old high school junior in Texas. For the last eight months she's been receiving horrible texts calling her ugly, whore, wishing she would have a seizure and die already.  Yeah, that sort of sick crap is going on by people who think they can say anything they want under the guise of being anonymous over the Internet and in text messages. 

Who does this sort of crap? Why on earth do this other than to get your rocks off out of deliberately hurting another human being?

It's time we all stood up to this sort of childish, mean spirited and ILLEGAL activity. These people think they can get away with doing this to Shea and others because they don't think they'll be found out or turned in. 

I've got news for you asshats. Sending threats and harassing messages over text, phone, or the Internet is a crime and they authorities do have the ability to trace where these messages originate. You will be brought to justice and the book thrown at you. No longer will you be able to hide behind the idea "kids will be kids."  The judicial system has ZERO tolerance for this sort of thing.

Whether you are an adult or a minor, you will be punished to the full extent of the law. Those of us with Shea will accept no less.  

If you are the target of this kind of harassment and bullying, don't keep quiet. STAND UP.  Tell the local police. Tell your story so others will do the same. Bullies only have the power if we stand back and let them have it.

I'm with Shea and all the others like her. Are you?

~Stephanie

To learn more about Shea and lend your voice with hers and her mother's, follow her on Twitter and Facebook.