By: Hal C Clarke
The Yonkers NAACP conducted an investigation into the allegations of antisemitic slurs by Roosevelt High School student-athletes during a girls’ basketball game against Leffell School. According to their findings, there was “no evidence” supporting the accusations, and they deemed the claims both “untrue and unfair., the NY Post reported
Frank Coleman, the president of the Yonkers NAACP and a substitute teacher at Roosevelt, stated that there was “absolutely no evidence of any antisemitic slurs rendered.”
The NAACP report highlighted a “rush to judgment” against Roosevelt High School students and emphasized that claims of excessive aggression by the players were incorrect. The investigation involved reviewing game footage and interviewing parents, kids, and coaches. The report concluded that the Roosevelt players simply played basketball, contradicting the conclusions of the Yonkers school district.
The Yonkers school district had taken disciplinary actions, including firing the coach and removing a player from the team, following the alleged incident. Yonkers Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Luis Rodriguez and Mayor Mike Spano issued a joint statement denouncing hate speech and apologizing for the alleged vitriol faced by the visiting team.
The game ended prematurely after reported antisemitic slurs, and security guards escorted Leffell School players off the court due to the increasingly hostile contest. Allegations included a student saying, “I support Hamas, you f–king Jew,” and Yonkers kids yelling “Free Palestine” and other anti-Jewish statements throughout the game.
Roosevelt coach Bryan Williams claimed to be unaware of the incident on the court and felt he was made a scapegoat. Despite expressing disapproval of the alleged actions, he focused on his team’s efforts to win.
Leffell School’s head of school, Michael Kay, mentioned that the Yonkers NAACP did not contact their players, coaches, or administrators during the investigation. He expressed disagreement with the NAACP’s findings, which contradicted the district’s conclusions and the students’ stories.
While the NAACP’s report challenges the district’s actions, the Yonkers school district and mayor’s office stand by their decisions. The statement from Michael Kay indicated a commitment to working constructively with district leadership to bring communities together for genuine learning opportunities.
Frank Coleman, senior pastor at Messiah Baptist Church and the president of the Yonkers NAACP, did not respond to requests for comments on the matter.
Critics might argue that the NAACP’s failure to contact Leffell School’s players, coaches, or administrators during the probe raises questions about the thoroughness of their investigation. The absence of input from the allegedly targeted group could be seen as a gap in the assessment, potentially leading to a biased or incomplete conclusion.
Additionally, critics might question the objectivity of the NAACP’s findings, especially given the stark contradiction with the Yonkers school district’s conclusions and the students’ accounts. Emphasizing the need for an impartial and comprehensive investigation that considers perspectives from all involved parties could be a valid point of critique.
It appears that the NAACP is seeing only the skin color of the hateful basketball players.
