Georgetown to open investigation amid dispute over Roxbury Preps’ allegations of racial insults

[ad_1]

Jacobs told the Georgetown school committee on Thursday that she was hiring an outside lawyer to conduct the investigation. She said that while the investigation is necessary, her findings are unlikely to satisfy everyone.

No one is going to win in this situation, Jacobs said.

She said her aim was to fairly resolve the conflict and seek common ground with Roxbury Prep, which has campuses in Roxbury and Hyde Park. Georgetown Police are also investigating the incident.

I was trying to make decisions on purpose in a hostile, emotional environment, Jacobs said. It is not about right and wrong. It is not about black and white. It’s about, how are we going to come together and figure this out?

Roxbury Prep released a statement Friday saying the school expects Georgetown authorities to take disciplinary action against anyone found guilty of misconduct.

Harassment and bullying in any form is unacceptable, and the racist treatment and lack of appropriate supportive response experienced by our students and coaches was concerning, the statement said. We spoke with the Superintendent and let her know that we expect those involved to be held accountable for their actions.

Jacobs said she plans to ask Roxbury Prep to cooperate with the Georgetown investigation. Roxbury Prep issued a statement Friday:

Given the very serious nature of this situation, we welcome the intention of the superintendents to conduct an independent investigation. Our hope is that we can join her in this investigation as full partners in jointly choosing an impartial investigator with whom Roxbury Prep and Georgetown feel comfortable and who will thoroughly investigate the events of last Friday night. This is a good first step and in the meantime we remain focused on supporting our school community as we go through this difficult time.

Georgetown was leading Roxbury Prep, 44-8, when a skirmish broke out between the players on the field late in the third quarter. The two teams face off in Division 8, the state’s smallest soccer division.

Roxbury Preps first-year head coach Willie McGinnis told The Globe on Monday that his players and coaching staff had been the target of racist slurs throughout the game. At half-time, the coach said, he spoke to the referees and then addressed his team. The Globes’ efforts to reach match officials were unsuccessful.

My message to the team was that we have to be better men and not react to the situation, said McGinnis, who is also the dean of the Roxbury Preps students.

When an altercation between the players ensued, Roxbury Prep coaches ran onto the pitch, according to video recordings of the incident. A coach appeared to grab a Georgetown player from behind and throw him to the ground. The match was suspended after the incident.

Roxbury Prep assistant coach Jamaal Hunt later posted on Facebook that his team had been ridiculed, called N-bombs by players, teachers, staff, spectators and taunted all night long.

This is not the case, according to some parents in Georgetown who attended the game. Eric Guyer, who has followed the Georgetown teams closely, said he and other parents who worked on the sidelines of Roxbury Preps had never heard anyone from Georgetown utter a racial insult.

By all accounts, that was not true, Guyer said. No one shouted N words or racial taunts. Just as usual, you suck, on the part of the student body.

He said Georgetown had been unfairly vilified by numerous commentators on news and social media sites for the alleged racist conduct.

At first I thought it was laughable, Guyer said. Then I read hundreds of comments about our season that should be deleted.

Both teams played on Friday. Georgetown lost to KIPP Academy of Lynn, another ethnically diverse team. Roxbury Prep lost to Millis in Boston.

As a precaution, Georgetown has restricted participation in its game, banning students and only allowing entry to two parents per player. Jacobs said she was working with police on additional logistics, such as media accommodation.

As for the investigation, led by a lawyer Jacobs had not yet identified, she told the school committee she wanted to ensure the findings would be viewed as unbiased and objective.

Roxbury is convinced that this is what happened. We don’t have to be okay with it, but we have to hear it, Jacobs said. They ask us to take what they say seriously and try to understand what has happened. This is what we did. Ultimately, they may not agree with the survey. But the important thing is, what are we going to do about it?

Players from the Roxbury Prep and Georgetown teams remain dismayed by the incident and the public dispute that followed, according to those familiar with them.

Something good will come out of it. It’s a shame it’s only a painful moment. Roxbury also feels hurt. Their emotions are very real and we just have to appreciate that and understand what’s going on in our community, Jacobs said. I would really like to believe that the way forward is to have the two schools come together and say, It happened, let’s move on.

Roxbury Prep, in its statement, said: Our priority will remain the safety and well-being of our community as we continue to advocate for racial justice, love and respect.

Globe correspondent Nate Weitzer contributed to this report.

Bob Hohler can be reached at [email protected].

[ad_2]