Eyewitness video from the game, posted by Twitter user Sara Carpenter, shows the man being ejected via police escort, while other spectators in the gym chant the chorus to the Steam song “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye).”
School officials asked that the officer seen in the video, Sergeant Chris Carson, remove the offender from the school, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. But according to Sherman Police Department spokesman Sergeant Brett Mullen, because the man wasn’t arrested and wasn’t given a criminal trespassing warning, he hasn’t been permanently banned from further Sherman games.
The man in the video has not yet been identified. The game, versus students from the town Melissa, continued as scheduled.
There have been a number of incidents of racism at high school athletic competitions which have cropped up recently.
On December 17, the Yakima School District opened an investigation into racist remarks allegedly hurled by Moses Lake fans at fans of Davis High School players during a basketball game, via the Yakima Herald.
According to Arquette Joe, a parent of a multiracial Davis High School player, he was allegedly told to “go back to Yakima, you [n-word]” during an argument with a Moses Lake supporter. There were 20 similar reports received by Moses Lake school superintendent Joshua Meek, as stated via a Facebook post.
Meek is still seeking witness testimony of these incidents. “While we have video surveillance that can be utilized, I would appreciate any firsthand knowledge and reports from those in attendance at the game.”
He has asked for anyone with eyewitness knowledge of the incidents to contact him.
Over a thousand people have signed a petition seeking to ban racism in high school sports, which was created in response to the the Moses Lake incident.
Also in December, a girls’ basketball game between Bishop McNamara Catholic School and St. Edward Central Catholic School in Elgin, Ohio came under fire after students on the St. Edward side were accused of making whale noises at a player to body-shame her, and then making monkey noises every time another player touched the ball, allegedly to mock her race.
Someone used the public address system to try to get the audience to stop chanting, but the chants continued throughout the game.
The principal of St. Edward later released a letter condemning the student’s actions. “As a school community, we condemn racism and discriminatory behavior against all people in any form…We will continue to investigate this incident any student who participated will face serious disciplinary actions.”
