Lincoln-Way East students accused of racial harassment at Homewood-Flossmoor football game
Police removed multiple people from the Lincoln-Way East student section in the third quarter of Friday’s game between visiting Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor in Flossmoor.
The teams, most fans and media were unaware of what had happened, but photos and videos began appearing on social media on Saturday morning. Later on Saturday, both schools addressed the incident.
According to a statement from H-F superintendent Jennifer Norrell and principal Clinton Alexander, “five Lincoln-Way East student fans made a very bad choice to engage in disrespectful and racist harassment towards H-F students seated in the bleachers.”
Alexander was at the game. The statement goes on to say that H-F is working with Lincoln-Way East and local authorities “as we consider all options to protect against this in the future, including legal options.”
Lincoln-Way East released the following statement:
“We are aware that a group of five Lincoln-Way East students displayed inappropriate and offensive behavior at the football game against Homewood-Flossmoor on Friday night. The students involved are not members of the football team. We would like to sincerely apologize to the HF community for the behavior displayed by these students. This behavior does not reflect the expectations and standards we have for Lincoln-Way students.
The district is taking this matter seriously. We have identified the students involved and will follow through with the district’s discipline policies and procedures to the fullest extent.
Because this matter involves students, we cannot disclose the names of those involved or the disciplinary action that is to be taken.”
Homewood-Flossmoor plans to address the matter with its entire student body this week.
“We as an H-F Community are an example for how to live and thrive as a community of diverse individuals,” Homewood-Flossmoor’s statement said. “We want to remain the model and also a model for how we respond to those who attempt to disrespect and ultimately distract us from our goals.”