The Roosevelt School District in Long Island, New York, filed an official notice of claim on behalf of their boys’ basketball team that alleged they were called racial slurs and taunted during away games against two high schools in February.
Roosevelt High School boys basketball players and cheerleaders claimed that they were spit on, called the N-word, and had racists comments yelled at them by unruly fans from Wantagh High School and Lynbrook High School during away games at the two Hempstead, New York schools.
The notices of claim were filed on May 4 by Roosevelt Union Free School District against the Wantagh School District and the Nassau County Public High School Athletic Association for the alleged incidents during a Feb. 17 game between the two schools. They also filed a claim against the Lynbrook School District in relation to incidents that occurred during a Feb. 15 game.
Related: ‘It Is Unbelievable’: Atlanta High School Soccer Player Suspended by GHSA from Biggest Game After Speaking Out About Alleged Racist Taunts from Opponents; Other Team Faces No Penalty for Reportedly Hurling N-Word
“This was during the starting lineup call. They turned their backs,” said Rochelle Gooding, Roosevelt High School’s cheerleading coach, to CBS News.
Gooding said that sportsmanship and respect were put aside by opposing parents because they appeared to do nothing while the verbal abuse took place.
Wantagh and Lynbrook students reportedly swarmed the court, referees didn’t ask for handshakes, and parents from Roosevelt High School said they felt intimidated by their crowds.
Players were reportedly asked to document what happened after those games and said they heard the N-word.
Roosevelt leaders also alleged that Wantagh and Lynbrook leaders failed to intervene or discipline students during the games, which violates the Section 8 code of conduct.
“How are these people, in these white T-shirts and sweatshirts, with…
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