Even guys who travel the world doing crazy aerial bike tricks draw unwanted hateful comments known as cyberbullying.
On Friday, the Action Sports Association, known to their fans as ASA Entertainment, brought a high-flying No Hate Tour to Early College High School in Killeen ISD.
Three top BMX bicycle athletes and their announcer thrilled students and staff with land-based control tricks and ramp-propelled leaps and flips through the air.
Teachers Meghan Gilliam and Lawrence Williams, chosen by their students, sacrificed themselves for the show finale.
The two, with a representative of the Marine Corps, sat in chairs at the top of the main ramp as two BMX racers circled them, rolled up one ramp, raced to the ramp where the teachers sat and soared above them all.
See the photos and videos from No Hate Tour at Early College High School:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720330322091
Throughout the show, the announcer, nicknamed “Catfish” pointed out the importance of showing kindness to everyone since you don’t know what people are going through outside school and work settings.
He told a story how someone online made fun of his jeans after a performance and the irony that he was on the No Hate Tour at the time.
He urged students to find friends they can trust and talk to when times are difficult and to find an activity like sports or art that can have a calming effect.
Peyton Southwick, a sophomore, was one of many students collecting autographs and stickers at the end.
“The show was about anti-bullying and no hate and how to deal with,” she said. “The bullies don’t realize people have things they don’t talk about it. He told us about how he was cyberbullied and how he dealt with it.”
“The tricks were good. I think they gave us a new look at bullying and reminded us, it’s easy to just block the bullies.”