Man shares anti-bullying message

However, Perkins, a self-described construction worker, captured his audience's attention with his first few words and held it all the way to his poignant presentation's conclusion.

Smalley, founder of Stand for the Silent (www.standforthesilent.org), shared his family's story at the recent Oklahoma Conference of Church's annual dinner at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City. The Rev. William Tabbernee, the organization's executive director, said Smalley's topic of the evening — bullying — is one of the social justice problems the conference plans to combat.

Smalley said to the group that he and his wife, Laura, have been working to prevent bullying, particularly school bullying, since their son Ty committed suicide two years ago after he was bullied. He held up pictures of children whom he said committed suicide and he gave details about their lives and the bullying that drove them to take their own lives.

Smalley, at times weeping, said he has presented his anti-bullying message to more than 600,000 young people and adults since May 2010.

He urged the religious leaders to help combat bullying by talking to other people about the negative and tragic consequences that can result from such behavior.

“I'm not asking you to do it for me. I'm not asking you to do it for my boy — my boy is not being picked on anymore,” Smalley said.