On Monday, a handful of women stood with their attorneys outside the El Monte Union High School District headquarters.
“Right now we represent 14 victims,” attorney Michael Carillo told reporters. “We know of three other victims who were victims of a wrestling coach - three boys. We, as sexual assault survivor attorneys, we know that there are probably countless other victims who are either too afraid to come forward or, due to the grooming, they don't want to come forward.”
Carillo has filed three lawsuits, alleging eight different staff members sexually molested students repeatedly over the years, but when allegations of abuse were reported to the school, no one did anything to stop it.
“When you have a culture in this entire school district where protection of your fellow employees is more important than the protection of the students, that's what allowed this environment to develop for 30 years, for longer,” Carillo said. “I know of cases from the 70s.”
The victims, who did not want to be identified, said it’s time for a change.
“I'm here to represent not just myself and not the 28 years of abuse that I've gone through myself, but all the other students in the district that have,” one woman said.
This comes just days after Attorney General Rob Bonta finished an investigation where the district agreed to report all allegations of sexual abuse.
In a statement to KNX News, Superintendent Zuniga said, in part, "the District will implement additional supports, including the designation of staff to oversee and monitor student safety complaints and investigations, expanded training and resources for students and families, and improved systems for reporting concerns."
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