BELOIT, Wis. — Police say they are investigating racist conduct that happened during a boys' post-season basketball game at Muskego High School. The alleged conduct — witnessed by parents, school officials and players — is being addressed by school administrators, officials confirm.
Following the playoff game between Muskego and Beloit Memorial High School, the superintendent of the Beloit school district, Willie Garrison sent a letter to staff and their families. In that letter, Garrison said there were written racial slurs in the team's locker room and unsportsmanlike phrases chanted during the game.
In a statement, Garrison said:
"Last night (3/3/23) at our boy's basketball playoff game vs. Muskego, some unacceptable actions transpired. We are aware of the alleged racial slurs written and unsportsmanlike phrases being chanted. Beloit and the Muskego school districts administration are cooperating with each other, and an investigation is being conducted. We take this matter very seriously. All students should be able to play in a safe, competitive sports environment. These actions do not represent our beliefs or mission statement. We want our student-athletes and families to know we want safe learning environments in our schools and at athletic/activities events."
The Muskego School District also released a statement following the allegations, saying they take the allegations very seriously and will assist the police with their investigation.
Muskego police lieutenant Andrew Kraus said he expects the investigation, which is currently in its preliminary stages, will take some time. A school resource officer from the high school is interviewing students who attended the game, Kraus said. Kraus said police will also review game footage and videos from parents and students.
Kraus said Muskego police are trying to find anyone who may have had access to the locker room prior to the game. He said he believes hundreds of people could have had the chance to go into the locker room before Friday’s game.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association also released a statement on Monday following the alleged incidents at Muskego, saying:
"The membership of the WIAA objects to any and all disrespectful behaviors at interscholastic athletic events. The schools involved are currently working together and conducting an investigation into the alleged incident. We are always willing to assist our schools in their efforts to ensure high school activities are conducted in a positive and safe environment."
The Beloit community is supporting the Beloit Memorial boys basketball team after racist writing was left in the locker room for a game.
Friday night, Muskego hosted Beloit Memorial. A student shared video with Spectrum News showing swastikas and racial slurs written in the dust on top of lockers in the visitors’ locker room.
Beloit families were also troubled by Muskego students’ behavior during the game. They were wearing ski masks and tank tops, and allowed to be courtside. Some families said they heard monkey chants.
“It wasn’t OK. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t just,” said Brandye Hereford. Her nephew is on the Beloit Memorial boys basketball team.
Hereford said some of the players saw the racist writing in the dust before the game, then went on to play.
“I feel like they swallowed that because they felt like they needed to,” Hereford said.
Jonna Espinoza is a teacher, and has known most of the basketball team since they were little kids. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing from the Muskego students during the game.
“From the outfits that they were wearing, to the chanting and the taunting, and being allowed to stand right on the court … I think we were all in shock, trying to figure out if this was really happening,” Espinoza said.
Beloit Memorial ended up losing the game on Friday.
“I saw my nephew first, and he kind of just ran up to me and like literally sobbed, like whole chest sobbed, after the game, like full back moving,” said Hereford. “I just was like, ‘It's OK. It's OK. It's OK.’ And at that time, still not knowing that on top of losing the game, that they had to deal with somebody posting the N-word, having swastikas all over the place.”
“It gets me choked up a little bit,” Espinoza said, getting emotional. “But we have an amazing community. These kids didn't deserve this.”
Michelle Nora has two sons on the team. As the parent of Black boys, she’s been preparing them their whole lives to face prejudice.
“I’ve been having these conversations with my sons since they were little,” Nora said. “Because the world we live in, I know what's going to happen.”
In one of the videos showing racist writing in dust, Beloit Memorial coach Todd Marks’ postgame speech to the players is audible. He told his team he couldn’t be any prouder of them, and that he loved each and every one of them.
“The hate is probably an experience they’re never going to forget, unfortunately,” Espinoza said. “But I hope they realize that they have so much love and support behind them.”
Now, the adults who love Beloit Memorial players are hoping the boys realize that the community has their back.