Westchester Democrats urge action in wake of racist slurs
It was a tightly contested matchup between a perennial power and a familiar opponent from Putnam County. But more than 10 days after the final buzzer sounded, the score of the Mount Vernon-Mahopac basketball game couldn't appear more inconsequential.
Racist taunts and tweets, Mahopac players allegedly using racial slurs on the court, and the reported sighting of a Confederate flag in the stands have combined to overshadow this playoff struggle, marring what one sports writer called a "brutal classic" at the Westchester County Center.
It's not the first athletic contest where sports have taken a backseat to racist behavior — a widespread problem members of the Democratic caucus on the Westchester Board of Legislators say has prompted them to urge the county's Human Rights Commission to take action.
"Apparently, these are not isolated incidents involving bad sportsmanship," Legislator Alfreda Williams, D-Greenburgh, said in a statement. "They demonstrate a racial intolerance that cannot be condoned."
Williams added she would look into what the commission — which is broadly charged with uncovering, investigating and eliminating unequal treatment — has been doing to monitor and mitigate reports of hate language used by students at sporting events.
According to Westchester officials, the county agency is supposed to be hosting and presenting educational events regarding racial sensitivity. The chair of the commission did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
The Democratic legislators want all county school officials to immediately report to the commission any instances of racist or bigoted comments made by students, faculty or community members at different events. They also plan to sponsor communitywide programs to address race-related issues.
"These aren't problems that should be kept 'in-house' with the idea that a few school suspensions will make everything better," said Legislator Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers. "Let's look to see why the problems are taking place at events involving our young people."
The call for action on Sunday follows the suspension of eight Mahopac students, who were punished for posting racist tweets after the school's Feb. 27 varsity boys basketball semifinal loss against Mount Vernon. A ninth could face disciplinary action for bringing the Confederate flag.
Mount Vernon officials have also accused Mahopac players of using racial slurs on the court in violation of state Education Law — a claim Mahopac has disputed. Meanwhile, a video has also emerged showing a cluster of middle-age Mount Vernon men standing at the foot of the bleachers near the end of the game deriding the Mahopac student fans.
State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, also weighed in by issuing a statement last week that read, in part, "Let it be clear, Mount Vernon is equally responsible for the toxic environment that was unfortunately created. Yet unlike Mahopac, Mount Vernon has yet to take action to hold their fan base and students accountable. Two wrongs never make a right, yet unlike Mount Vernon, Mahopac immediately took the accusations seriously and the district has used their appropriate authority to hold the individuals involved accountable."
Twitter: @gshilly