Hate speech has once again reared its ugly head during a high school basketball game this weekend.
In Friday’s 77-73 Catholic Memorial School victory over Newton North High School, chants from fans went overboard when CMS students taunted Newton students with “You killed Jesus!” in response to “sausage fest!” chants. Newton has a prominently Jewish community per the Washington Post, so the remarks were clearly antisemitic in nature.
Probably craziest high school chant ever
Newton North fans chant: "sausage fest, sausage fest"
CM fans response: "You killed Jesus"
— Dan (@Dtf617) March 12, 2016
The chants were moronic, and CMS administration recognized that. The New England Anti-Defamation League was brought in and made contact with both schools, while CMS released a statement saying the chants were unacceptable.
“Catholic Memorial School is deeply disturbed by the behavior of a group of student spectators who made an unacceptable chant Friday night while playing Newton North High School.
CM faculty and staff acted immediately to stop the behavior. Administrators from both schools and representatives from the MIAA discussed the incident. At the conclusion of the game, CM students were reprimanded and each student personally apologized to the Principal of Newton North High School and shook his hand before leaving the arena.
We have been the subject of hurtful chants as well and we will work diligently within our own community and with other schools to end this abhorrent behavior. Catholic Memorial School believes deeply that intolerance, of any kind, is unacceptable. We apologize for the actions of our students and we will continue to strenuously address this issue within our community.”
The school acted appropriately in dealing with the students, but it’s a situation that they shouldn’t have put themselves in the first place. The fact students thought it was acceptable to publicly make antisemitic remarks is concerning and not a good look on the school’s values that they think it’s OK to do that.
