Robbinsdale school officials dispute findings of New Prague investigation into reported racist taunts at game
Officials with the Robbinsdale school district say they are "disappointed, but not surprised" that the New Prague school district reported an investigation could not substantiate reports of racist taunts at a high school basketball game in February.
In a statement issued Monday after New Prague school officials reported their findings, Robbinsdale Superintendent David Engstrom and other district officials said they believe the Robbinsdale Cooper student-athletes and coaches who reported the taunts at a Feb. 15 girls basketball game at New Prague.
"We believe the first-person statements they made about the incident, and we believe the team did experience racist taunts and jeers from the New Prague crowd," Engstrom and the other officials wrote — adding that "regardless of the findings of New Prague’s investigation, Robbinsdale Area Schools, including Cooper High School, will not compete in any athletic events against New Prague for the foreseeable future."
Robbinsdale officials had said last month that New Prague fans made monkey-like noises during the Feb. 15 game. Robbinsdale Cooper has a number of Black players on its roster.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
New Prague officials had said Monday that investigators reviewed video of the game and talked with about 20 people who were there, and could not substantiate the reports.
But in their statement later in the day, Robbinsdale officials said they "refused to subject our student athletes and additional staff members to questioning by (New Prague) investigators – a process that would have forced students and staff to relive their traumatic experience."
"Robbinsdale Area Schools continue to stand with, support and believe our student athletes," the officials wrote. "We are proud of the way they handled themselves amidst this display of ignorance."
The basketball incident coincided with allegations of racist taunts directed against St. Louis Park boys' hockey players during a game at New Prague — an incident New Prague officials acknowledged and apologized for at the time.
The incident prompted St. Louis Park to join Robbinsdale in canceling future athletic competitions with New Prague.
Earlier this month, Minnesota State High School League Executive Director Erich Martens told a Minnesota House committee that the league won’t tolerate racial taunts, player threats or other outbursts. Martens said a model code of conduct for schools and a student conference around upholding a welcoming environment are in the works.
“Certainly we want great participation by our student fans especially, as well as our community fans. But when it comes to addressing individual players or cheering against another team or certainly going toward anything that is inappropriate or would be viewed as offensive, we need to clean that up," he said.
Martens said the league is involved in supporting students who've been subject to harassment, and ensuring there are consequences for instigators.