Coronado school district leaders apologized Sunday to Orange Glen High School – a predominantly Latino school in Escondido – after tortillas were tossed to the school’s men’s basketball team during an altercation after a championship game on Saturday. in the evening.
Coronado police said they would investigate the incident.
It is the third incident convicted as a racist in San Diego County high school sports in recent years. For Coronado, the incident comes as his school district – which serves predominantly white students – examines how to eradicate racism in its schools.
Saturday’s tumult developed after Coronado won the game, 60-57, in overtime at home. The coaches of both teams were arguing when, according to a video shared on social media, at least two Coronado players tossed tortillas to each other.
“We should have a universal condemnation of this activity,” Assemblywoman Lorena González said on Twitter. “Parents in SD County know that racist taunts against Latino athletes are all too common. It is time to stop it ”.
She issued a message to parents: “Teach your children not to be racist,” she said on Twitter. “The tortillas are to eat, not to throw away.”
He also called on the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to strip Coronado of his championship or otherwise sanction the high school.
Coronado Unified School District Superintendent Karl Mueller called the incident “reprehensible” and apologized to Orange Glen. He said the district is “committed to opposing any act of bias.”
“The individuals who participated in these actions do not reflect the values of our school district,” Mueller said in a statement. “I want to make it clear that there is no room for such conduct in the Coronado Unified School District.”
He promised “quick action” and accountability.
“It is our hope to create opportunities to dialogue with the Orange Glen community in an attempt to repair,” he said. “We are hopeful that this experience can be used as a teaching moment to educate our students about the impact of words and actions, and to reflect on and learn from it in order to move toward greater awareness and respect that matches our lives. high expectations. “
The Coronado school board also issued an apology to Orange Glen and planned to meet Tuesday to discuss the matter.
“Coronado Unified School District administrators recognize that these acts are heinous, degrading and disrespectful,” the school board said in a letter to Orange Glen. The school board also said it condemned “the racism, classism and colorism that fueled the attackers’ actions.”
Witnesses said there were several heated moments on the court and in the stands during the championship game. Some blamed administrators and referees for not controlling the environment. The game came a week after Coronado beat Orange Glen in another championship game.
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Orange Glen coach Chris Featherly said it was a “hotly contested” game. He said his coaching staff was incredulous at the loss and that his players were distraught. They were awaiting the awards ceremony after the game when Coronado coach JD Laaperi made disrespectful comments at Featherly and his players, he said.
According to Featherly, Laaperi said: “That is why (expletive) is not spoken. Take your kids and get out of here (expletive). ”Featherly confronted Laaperi, telling her the comment was disrespectful, she said.
It was during the confrontation that the tortillas were thrown. Featherly said he was hit, but didn’t know what it was until he looked at the ground and saw the tortillas. He said he believes the incident is a reflection of the school’s basketball program and its leadership.
Featherly said the players deserve the championship win. “His boys fought a lot,” he said. But he added that Laaperi should be held accountable.
Contacted by phone Sunday, Laaperi said district officials asked him not to comment. “Unfortunately, a community member brought tortillas and distributed them, which was unacceptable and racist in nature,” he said Saturday night on Twitter. “I do not condone this behavior. Coronado High School does not condone this behavior and is already taking appropriate action. “
Coronado police said they received a call to help clear the gym after the incident. Officers have identified a man who brought tortillas to the game and investigators plan to follow up, the department said.
The incident follows several high-profile attacks that affected students at Lincoln High School.
In April, soccer players from Cathedral Catholic High School circulated racist photos directed at Lincoln High School. One of the photos showed someone wearing a T-shirt with the legend Catholics vs. Convicts III and another showed private school players making a gang sign. In May, the San Diego City Conference, which governs San Diego high school sports, suspended the Cathedral Catholic soccer coach for two games. He also put the team on two years of probation and directed Cathedral Catholic to implement a restorative education program.
In 2019, Lincoln High School students were subjected to teasing and racial slurs at a San Clemente High School football game. The San Clemente principal said Lincoln High and San Clemente students would participate in a Restorative Circle and workshop facilitated by the Anti-Defamation League.