A high school in Washington state has been sanctioned after a racist chant broke out at a women’s basketball game.
In video captured from the game, which took place between host Connell High School and Zillah High School on May 22, the crowd is heard calling a young black student a “monkey.” The jeers continued on a number of other occasions when she had the ball.
As part of the sanctions, Connell’s boys and girls basketball teams will be banned from postseason play, and fans will be banned from both home and away games for the rest of the school year.
According to a Facebook post, the North Franklin School District first announced they were investigating on May 24, two days after the incident occurred.
“Any show of racism is inexcusable and will not be tolerated in our district,” the district superintendent, Jim Jacobs, said in the statement. “We take these allegations seriously and, while we are unable to share disciplinary details due to privacy laws, we will assure appropriate consequences are administered.”
A day later, Connell’s athletic director, Stephen Pyeatt, made a statement of his own, saying: “I want to take this time to apologize for the racist actions that transpired while I was in charge of the girls basketball game. I know that what happened has caused an immense amount of pain to you as a player, coach, fan, family member, and community member, and I am deeply sorry.”
