Students in schools in Grand Ledge and Lansing heard about bullying Monday from someone who was bullied as a kid. It was former Michigan State basketball player Anthony Ianni. Now a motivational speaker for the state of Michigan’s Department of Civil Rights, told Michigan News Network he teaches kids that victims of bullying can grow up to be the next great inventor or sports star.
“I was bullied from when I was a kindergartner until I was a freshman in high school,” Ianni said. “It was pretty bad. Mainly, I was bullied because of my autism, because I said and did things differently than others.”
With social media, Ianni, who was bullied as a kid since he has Autism Spectrum Disorder, says bullying can be more prevalent. However, he tells also kids those who bully online are cowards. The Relentless Tour began in 2013 by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights with a goal of reaching more than 650 schools with an anti-bullying message.
