San Diego-area high school basketball team threw tortillas at majority-Latino school after championship game
A basketball team from a majority-Latino high school in the San Diego area had tortillas thrown at them by players from an opposing predominately white school after a championship game on Saturday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Coronado school district in the San Diego area apologized on Monday for the incident. At least two Coronado players threw tortillas, per the report.
“The Trustees of the Coronado Unified School District acknowledge these acts to be egregious, demeaning and disrespectful,” the school board said in a letter to Orange Glen, the opposing high school, via The Associated Press. The trustees said they condemned “the racism, classism and colorism which fueled the actions of the perpetrators.”
The incident occurred after Coronado beat Orange Glen 60-57 in overtime on Saturday in the Southern California division 4-A regional championship game. According to the Union-Tribune, coaches from both schools were “squabbling” after the game when at least two Coronado players threw tortillas at Orange Glen players. There were apparently “several heated moments on the court and in the stands” during the contest.
Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California, is predominantly Latino.
Coronado coach JD Laaperi said on Twitter that a “community member” brought the tortillas to the game, per the report. That man has been identified and is being investigated by police, who were called to the school to help clear the gym.
Coronado Unified School District superintendent Karl Mueller said the actions of Coronado players was “reprehensible.”
“The individuals who participated in these actions do not reflect our school district values,” Mueller said in a statement, via the Union-Tribune. “I want to make it clear that there is no place for such conduct in Coronado Unified School District.
“It is our hope to create opportunities to dialogue with the Orange Glen community in an attempt to repair. We are hopeful that this experience can be used as a teachable moment to educate our students on the impact of words and actions, and to reflect and learn from it to move forward to increased awareness and respect to match our high expectations.”
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