Boston, MA – A senior at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Carly Nguyen, says she and her mother were subjected to racial slurs by two men as they left campus on Thursday. Nguyen recorded part of the encounter on her phone and posted the video to TikTok, where it quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of views.
Details of the alleged confrontation
According to Nguyen, the men shouted the N‑word with a hard “r” and a derogatory term aimed at people of Asian descent. “These two guys down here yelled the N‑word with a hard ‘r’ and the ‘C’ slur to me and my mom as we were leaving campus,” she said in the TikTok clip.
The incident occurred on Bianculli Boulevard, a public road that runs adjacent to both UMass Boston and Boston College High (BC High). Nguyen believes the teenagers may be students at BC High because she heard one of them call the other by name during the exchange.
BC High’s response
Boston College High has not identified the individuals involved but confirmed that it is conducting a thorough investigation. In an official statement, the school called the alleged behavior “entirely unacceptable” and emphasized that it “fundamentally contradicts our mission as a Jesuit, Catholic institution.”
“Racism in any form will not be tolerated at BC High,” the statement read. “We acknowledge the harm caused by these actions and affirm that every individual, both within and beyond our school community, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.” The school added that it will take appropriate disciplinary action under its policies, while noting that privacy laws prevent it from sharing the status or outcome of any potential measures.
Calls for accountability
Nguyen expressed a desire for the strongest possible consequences, stating, “I want them expelled. I want the harshest punishment possible.” She also said she would attend a yoga class after the interview to manage the stress caused by the incident.
Broader context
Cynthia Choi, co‑founder of the nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate, said Nguyen’s experience reflects a larger pattern of discrimination. “What Carly and her mother experienced is actually not unique,” Choi told NBC10 Boston. The organization’s recent survey found that nearly 50 % of Asian Americans reported experiencing discrimination, with 15 % saying it occurred in an educational setting.
Choi stressed that schools and other institutions have a responsibility to treat such allegations seriously. “We do need to demand institutional accountability,” she said. “This shouldn’t be minimized as kids being kids, or that these are just words. Words are very, very harmful.”
Community reaction
The incident has sparked discussion among Boston residents about campus safety and the need for stronger anti‑racism measures. Local faith leaders have expressed solidarity with Nguyen and urged the school to uphold its Jesuit values by ensuring a swift and transparent resolution.
As the investigation proceeds, BC High has pledged to keep the community informed while respecting student privacy. The school’s commitment to its Catholic mission and to fostering an environment of respect remains central to its response.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.