Long Island Parents Demand End to Games Against Rival School District Due to Alleged Racial Incidents
Parents from Elmont High School in Long Island, New York, are fiercely advocating for a permanent cessation of athletic competitions against the Bellmore-Merrick School District, citing a disturbing history of racist behavior that has allegedly plagued interactions between the two school districts for years. The Elmont High School’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and the school’s Dad’s Club recently convened a town hall meeting with Nassau County sports Section VIII officials to address what they describe as a deeply ingrained pattern of racism emanating from the Bellmore-Merrick School District, as reported by The New York Post.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by the presence of representatives from the Sewanhaka School District, under which Elmont High School operates, as well as representatives from the Bellmore-Merrick district itself, signaling the widespread concern and recognition of the issues at hand.
Lynette Battle, a member of the Sewanhaka board of trustees and former president of the PTSA, expressed her frustration and dismay, labeling the recurring incidents as the "definition of insanity." She emphasized the urgent need for decisive action, stating, "Something different has to be done. And someone needs to be courageous enough to stand on business."
The call for action stems from a series of alleged racial incidents that have spanned several years, with one particular event serving as a catalyst for the recent surge in advocacy. The incident in question occurred during a girls’ varsity basketball game on February 7 between Elmont and Kennedy High School, which falls under the Bellmore-Merrick school district.
During the game, an altercation erupted between two players, one from each side. The New York Post reported that the player from Elmont, who is Black, was ejected from the game after allegedly swinging at the player from Kennedy, who is White. However, the situation took a turn when video footage emerged, revealing that the player from Kennedy had initiated the physical contact by hitting the player from Elmont first.
In light of the new evidence, an appeal was filed on behalf of the suspended Elmont player. Initially, Section VIII upheld its decision to suspend the player, but after a second appeal, she was reinstated and allowed to participate in a playoff game, suggesting a reconsideration of the initial judgment.
Despite the Bellmore-Merrick district’s decision to voluntarily suspend the Kennedy player involved in the altercation, parents from Elmont have expressed a sense of exasperation and have reached a point where they believe severing athletic ties with the rival district is the only viable solution. Their request extends beyond high school sports, encompassing middle school competitions as well, reflecting the depth of their concern.
During the town hall meeting, Lynette Battle presented a detailed account of alleged racial incidents that have occurred between the school districts over the years. Among the examples cited was a 2023 junior varsity volleyball game between Elmont and Kennedy High Schools, where fans allegedly taunted Elmont players with monkey gestures and displayed bananas, as reported by The Post.
A similar incident allegedly took place in December 2021, when fans from Bellmore-Merrick Mepham High School were accused of calling girls "monkeys" during a junior varsity basketball game, with bananas reportedly present as well.
In response to the 2021 incident, the fans involved were disciplined, and the Bellmore-Merrick superintendent and athletic director personally apologized to Elmont at their high school, according to Section VIII Director Patrick Pizzarelli.
Battle also brought attention to an incident from February 2019, where Elmont cheerleaders allegedly hurled racial slurs at spectators supporting Bellmore-Merrick. Furthermore, she claimed that one of the cheerleaders wore an "afro-wig" to mock the Black players. Battle added that there were additional incidents in 2022 and 2023 that were allegedly racially charged, but they were not officially reported to the relevant sports authorities in the districts.
In an effort to address the issues, Section VIII and the districts have implemented workshops for students on the teams involved and have also instituted the reading of a civility statement before games, as reported by The Post.
However, these measures have been met with skepticism from parents, who view them as insufficient and failing to address the underlying problems. Lynette Battle questioned the effectiveness of these efforts, stating, "Our children are the ones being victimized. Why do they need to be in the room for a kumbaya moment?"
Jon Johnson of the Dad’s Club, whose three children graduated from Elmont High School and allegedly experienced similar racial incidents, shared his own experiences. He recounted an incident involving his "middle son," who played lacrosse against Wellington C. Mepham High School, another school in the Bellmore-Merrick district.
Johnson, who is Black, stated that during the game, an opposing player used a racial slur and told his son to leave the field. He said, "He was playing lacrosse, and in the middle of the game, the opposing player, after Elmont scored, the opposing player called him the flat-out the n-word and told him to get off of the field."
Despite the concerns raised by parents, Section VIII Director Patrick Pizzarelli has defended the actions taken by Section VIII and the respective districts in response to these incidents. He argued that town halls like these have facilitated progress in resolving these issues.
However, parents disagree, asserting that the responses have been inadequate and have failed to address the root causes of the problem. Johnson expressed his disappointment, stating, "We have trusted our district to help look over our kids, but I don’t think that they have, because they keep doing things to put a Band-Aid to a gunshot wound."
The parents’ frustration and determination to protect their children from further racial incidents are driving their advocacy for a complete cessation of athletic competitions between the Elmont and Bellmore-Merrick school districts. They believe that this drastic measure is necessary to ensure a safe and respectful environment for their children and to send a clear message that racism will not be tolerated. The situation remains tense, with ongoing discussions and efforts to find a resolution that addresses the concerns of all parties involved.
