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| | ZNet Commentary |
 | | The first waves of reporting and commentary promoted the idea that the Trenchcoat Mafia -- the loosely formed and defined group of "outsiders" at Columbine High School of which Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were ancillary members was, in essence, a cabal of dangerous, anti-social, satanistic, violence prone, far-right wing thugs. |
 | | Students began talking about how "members"of the Trenchcoat Mafia were not only verbally harassed but physically assaulted by the "preps and the athletes." "Physically assaulted," in this case means being hit in the school hallways, shoved into lockers, having food smashed into your face in the cafeteria. |
 | | Actions that outside of high school social culture where they have existed for decades and been tolerated, even condoned by teachers and administrators in a variety of ways from silence to active promotion would result in arrest and a possible jail sentence. |
| www.zmag.org /ZSustainers/ZDaily/1999-05/may_6bronski.htm (2298 words) |
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