Death catches attention across nation

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) - The suicide of a local teen is reigniting the fight against bullying. Fourteen-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer's life and death are opening eyes about the seriousness of bullying, and the desperation of the victims to escape it.

More and more people locally, and around the country are coming together to fight back against the bullies.

At a vigil held Tuesday, members of the crowd individually said, “I am Jamey Rodemeyer.”

They came together to remember. They came together to spread a message of change, to stop hate and make sure no one ever goes through what 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer did.

The Williamsville North freshman tragically took his own life last weekend after being bullied over his sexual orientation.

Back in May, Jamey posted a heartbreaking YouTube video . In the video he talked about his struggles, but also seemed hopeful at the time.

“They'd taunt me in the hallways and I felt like I could never escape it,” Jamie said in the video. “I promise you things will get better. I have so much support from people I don't even know.”

With the tragic turn of events in Jamey's life, his story is now catching the eye of the national media.

Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabees, said, “One day they feel OK, like they can make it, like they've got he strength to get by and the next day they feel that they can't.”

Tuesday night Jamey's story took center stage on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, where experts called on educators to do more to stop bullying.

Wiseman said, “If somebody says “you’re gay” and uses it to put somebody down, you say “Mark, you cannot use that word in my class room, are we good?” And you move on.”

Bullying will be taking center stage in Washington D.C. Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Education will host the second annual Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit.This year's goals will be to identify the next steps to combat bullying.