Allen responds with anger and anguish to racist vandalism targeting star QB Mike Hawkins

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A racial epithet spray-painted on the home of a star high school quarterback last month in Allen has sparked outrage and grief while renewing calls to fight racism.

Mike Hawkins Sr., a former NFL player, told the Dallas Morning News that he unenrolled his two sons from Allen schools this week following the vandalism in late December.

The family believe Mike Hawkins Jr., one of the nation’s top high school football recruits for the Class of 2024, was targeted after his parents put their home up for sale.

The racist wording WE DON’T NEED YOU HERE IN ALLEN (N-word) was written in foot-tall black letters on the left side of the house’s white garage door. A police report has been filed.

Community members were quick to condemn the vandalism and said they were determined to find out who was responsible.

It is extremely disheartening to hear of this incident, Allen Mayor Ken Fulk said. This language and behavior is inexcusable and has no place in a supportive and welcoming community like Allen.

Collin Packer, who sits on the city’s community engagement board, said the community must work together to fight racism.

People can’t just say that’s not who we are, he said. We laugh at ourselves if we just go into a defensive position.

It’s wrong. This cannot be accepted, said Packer, whose three children attend Allen Schools. Leaders in our community must do everything in their power to eradicate hate and promote a message of love and inclusion.

Allen, a five-time state champion who plays in a $60 million stadium, is one of the hottest high school football programs in the state and nation. Notable alumni include eventual Heisman Trophy winner and eventual first overall pick Kyler Murray, who now plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

And since Murray’s historic run at Allen, the school quarterback job has been highly publicized.

Hawkins, a four-star rookie, is the No. 15 quarterback in the nation and No. 1 in the Dallas area, according to 247Sports.com. He was Allens’ highest-rated quarterback rookie since Murray.

Joe Martin, who coached at Allen from 2001 to 2003 and is now executive director of the Texas High School Football Coaches Association, said being a quarterback, at all levels of the game, comes with careful consideration. and increased scrutiny.

This may include the social media harassment that Mike Hawkins Sr. said his son received during his two seasons as a starter or critic and comments from outside voices.

Although he said he never witnessed or experienced Hawkins’ situation while coaching in North Texas, Martin said athletic departments needed to have a plan to protect children.

For some people, it’s appalling, he says. For the others, it’s real life, and what is it? [Hawkins Jr.] cross, of course.

Racist incidents surrounding high school football teams across the country, including hate-speech-filled group chats and social media posts, have sparked conversations this year about race and programs aimed at influencing the change. None were reported then in Allen or North Texas.

Allens’ population is 61% white and 9% black, according to a 2021 census report. This largely reflects Collin County, where more than 67% of residents are white and about 11% are black.

Racist vandalism

This isn’t the first time racist graffiti has appeared in Collin County.

Last month, nearly a dozen homes on Hidden Cove Drive in Plano were vandalized with racial slurs and Bible verses.

Police have identified a 19-year-old suspect, who lives out of state and was visiting family over the holidays, Plano police spokeswoman Jennifer Chapman said.

The man is suspected of breaking into a shed and stealing spray paint, which he used to label houses and cars. A neighbors outdoor camera captured its footage of the suspect, who has yet to be arrested.

Last summer, Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney was vandalized with racial slurs and swastikas twice in less than two months, rocking the congregation.

Outside the church someone spray painted a racial slur and a dozen swastikas with the message, Not my best work yet

McKinney Police then arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the vandalism.

These acts of violence are disgusting and the work of ignorant, hateful fools, McKinney Mayor George Fuller said at the time. Not representative of our community.

Gather a community

An Allen ISD spokesperson said the school district is in contact with police to offer assistance with the most recent vandalism.

Any instance of hate speech, no matter where or how it occurs, goes against the core beliefs of our school district, and it has no place in our community, spokesperson David Hicks said in an email.

Martin, Allen’s former coach, said he was upset to see the sport dividing any community.

I think it’s important to talk about how athletics brings a community together, he said. It breaks my heart to see an incident related to athletics separating us.

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