Mar 7, 2012
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A Texas school district has filed a complaint alleging that students from a rival school engaged in racism by chanting “USA, USA” at a basketball game. The students involved in the incident were reprimanded and forced to apologize.
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The San Antonio Independent School District filed the complaint with the University Interscholastic League, the governing body for athletics in Texas. They allege that students at Alamo Heights High School began chanting “USA, USA” after they defeated Edison High School to win a region basketball championship.
Edison’s team is predominantly Hispanic, said Leslie Price, a spokesperson for the San Antonio ISD.
“The implication as they are not American citizens,” Price told Fox News. “We understand competiveness and rivalry, but you need to choose your words and think about the meaning behind them.”
Price said she believes the “USA, USA” chant was racially motivated.
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“It was chanted selectively at a school that is predominantly Hispanic and there was understanding of that,” she said.
Price said the school district was bombarded with a number of people who found the “USA, USA” chant to be “very disrespectful.”
“That might be chanted at international soccer games,” she said. “But this is not a chant that these students chant at all of their basketball games. It was selective.”
According to local news accounts, the chanting occurred immediately after Alamo Heights won the championship. It lasted about five seconds before the head coach ordered the students to stop.
Alamo Heights ISD Superintendent Kevin Brown told MySanAntonio.com that he had apologized to San Antonio ISD officials.
“Unfortunately, after the game, we had a handful of students who made a bad decision and we’re very sorry it happened,” Brown told the newspaper. “They made a mistake and we’re going to use this as a learning experience.”
Price said it’s not the first time their students have been victims of insensitive chants. Last year students at another school chanted “USA, USA” and “Arizona.” It happened during the national discussion on Arizona’s controversial immigration bill.
The school district’s athletic director, Gil Garza, told the newspaper that the chant cannot be ignored.
“Our community is fed up,” he told MySanAntonio.com. “It’s really frustrating that kids work so hard to get to this level and there’s another group of kids degrading them.”
Jamey Harrison, deputy director of the University Interscholastic League, told Fox News that they have an “ongoing investigation” into the incident and at this point, it is unclear if the chant was racially motivated.
“Clearly, officials from San Antonio ISD felt it was,” Harrison said. “It’s my understanding they felt like it was motivated by the fact that most of the students on their team were of Hispanic origin.”
Harrison said they do not condone in any way “any type of derogatory chant or racially motivated chant at one of our events.”
Should the investigation uncover wrongdoing, he said the school could face a whole range of sanctions — from probation to potential suspensions.
Television station KSAT said the students who chanted “USA USA” were banned from the state title games and will be forced to apologize.
“We just hope that people know that that’s not who we are and we’re not going to let it happen again,” Brown told KSAT.
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Isn't Texas still in the USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA.
Sad day in history when we can not chant our Country's name. I am so very sick of the hypocritical stance our leaders take in the name of political correctness. Furthermore, why should the other team be so defensive unless they have some illegal activity to hide.
I heard nothing in the chant that spelled out racism, another ploy by the liberal news media to down play American exceptionalism and inspire more of the so called white guilt syndrome.
I am really torn on this one.
It was not racist, but anti illegal immigrant. It would be racist if all the boys on the other team are proven US citizens, then the chant is silly, since everyone is American.
But, if there ARE illegals playing for the other team, it s like Mexicans shouting Viva Mexico when they play the US in soccer. No on cares then.
The issue here is bigger.
Americans are tired of giving an education to illegals for free and these American kids hear it all the time, from parents, teachers, and the media. Their chant was political discourse in the truest form.
That is free speech.
Are any of the players illegal immigrants? If so, it's a shame they took the spot of a United States citizen.
I guess the USA Olympic team is Phuqed if they ever visit this area. I can see the headlines now,"Spain sues Team USA for citizens chanting USA USA after win in 400m dash, news at 11." This is bull, our identity as Americans are being taken away.
what the hell is wrong with this country anymore?
WTH , I guess I'm a racist then cause I've chanted that a zillion times I think !!!!
like the one person commented didnt know usa was a race
We should all make sure Joe is ok with other american's right to free speech. But it's ok for just across the border for our US soccer team to get booed and receive death threats from their fans.
The day I cant stand up for my country is the day I DIE, USA USA!
Any comment from La Raza? You know, the group whose sole purpose is reclamation of "stolen land from Mexico".
This PC garbage has to stop, anyone who refers to themself as an African, Latino, Asian or any other lable American is a fool who needs a lable to belong instead of doing what's right and learning to love your country as an American. This is what you get when everyone gets a trophy. Guess what Mommy and school official some of your kids stink. We are a society that blames everything on bullies instead of telling the truth that we have become a nation of sissies. USA USA USA.
Whatever sympathy I might have had for the argument disappeared when I read Gil Garza complain "our community is fed up." He himself is identifying "his community" as separate. Can't have it both ways, amigo. No nos diga mas tonterias, pendejo.
This is what happens when we put our children in the care of a bunch of liberal whackos. The schools are full of them, just look at what your child brings home from school and the projects they are assigned. I have yet to meet a conservative value-based school system that takes pride in our Country and shows it. We need to show them that we will fight back and so far I don't see that happening.
Resist political correctness at every opportunity. Ceaselessly question where the dictates of PC come from… mollycoddled progressive educators.
My child wouldn't be forced to apologize for a fucking thing! USA, USA, USA, USA! We rule the fuckin' planet and we need to start acting like it again! Americans come in all races, that's the beauty of it, however if you come here you become an American 100%! Leave your damn flag and your damn language in whatever country you came here from! No such thing as hyphenated Americans, no Asian-Americans, no African-Americans, no Mexican-Americans, your either American or your not. My ancestors came from Germany and that doesn't make me a fuckin' German-American. I am 100% American and proud of it! USA, USA, USA, USA!
Screw them…..
maybe next time they can chant ICE ICE and see how quick they can run.
USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA.
FLUKE OFF YOU fluking nanny staters..
What has this country come to when anytime USA is offensive!
I think people in the US are on too many drugs.
USA USA USA…..now i want someone to tell me to apologize.
Aussie Aussie Aussie… no? no? no?
OY OY OY!!!
Its funny how so many people can argue about what someone else's intentions were. The good thing about the first amendment is that it provides protection for both sides of this arguement. Those kids have the right to be as racist or patriotic(depending on your personal view) as they want. If some other people don't like it, then they have the right to express their opposing views by contacting the media and making a big deal out of it and drawing attention to it. The bad thing about Political Correctness is that it punishes and most times tries to silence someones right to free speech and expression. It doesn't get much more UNAMERICAN than punishing someone for expressing their views, beliefs, or opinions.
who cares this country is going down the tubes. you don't like it leave the U.S.A.
who cares this country is going down the tubes. you don't like it leave the U.S.A.
What the hell is wrong with these school officials and coaches? Feeding into the "victim" mentality and alleging racism with Every Single Incident only creates division and feeds into the forces that are ripping this country and everything it stands for apart. Those school officials should take this "teachable moment" to encourage patriotism and what it means to immigrate to a country.
The school got it exactly right.
Are you kidding? How is it right that being so hypersensitive that one cannot say "USA" at a sporting event, wear patriotic-themed clothing to school, or fly the American flag in America without having to apologise for "offending" someone and getting the ACLU involved?
I support the USA chant. When it's used for patriotism, and not for the exact opposite of what it should mean. The only reason these kids shouted USA was because they thought it was funny and knew they'd get in trouble for chanting "Spics". USA chants are for when the USA is playing another country or to display patriotism. Not when a team of white American kids is playing a team of Hispanic American kids. And anyone who's okay with these events, better not have the audacity to post anything on Facebook about having to do something about the horrors of bullying. Because that's all this was.
This should have been a moment for teachers and coaches to focus on the importance of patriotism, what it means to be an immigrant and the history of immigration in this country. It should not have been an excuse for yet another round of White People Suck Unless They're Liberals.
Sounds to me like they taught a group of racist bullies a lesson. Nothing more.
Oh, there's lots more. The "lesson" here is that we should apologise for being American, that immigration laws are optional, and that the victim/entitlement mentality is being carefully cultivated in schoolchildren.
The lesson here is that racism, even when disguised as patriotism, is wrong. Stringing someone up from a tree isn't okay, even if you make the noose out of an American flag.
Nobody was lynched, Matt. This is what I'm talking about when I say that we overreact to every incident. Huge public apologies to anyone who says "I'm offended", stapling a racial factor into every problem, and assuming that if you are a minority, you are automatically in the right is not what this country is supposed to be about.
So, are you trying to tell me that this incident was NOT racially motivated? Despite the fact that they didn't do it at any other game, that the other team was mostly Hispanic, and that the coach stopped it immediately? It was clear to everyone there what they were doing, and it needs to be stopped. Immediately and forcefully. My lynching comment was exaggerated to make a point. Nothing starts with lynching, or sticking people in camps, or throwing them in ovens. It starts with veiled patriotism and hushed conversations. And that's a fact that has been proven time and time again. These kids behaved like scum and they were called on their BS. They don't need a class on dealing with racial stereotypes, they need a kick in the ass. And that's what they got.
Oh, for Heaven's sake. It's TEXAS. Do you know how many people of Hispanic descent are there? It did NOT say that the other school was NOT Hispanic. The attorney for the "offended" school said that other teams they'd played had also chanted "Arizona". Does that mean that all victory chants by winning teams are to be limited by legislation to one (1) "Yay" in order to avoid offending anyone from a different school, town, state or province? Shall we simplify it further in order to avoid any sort of unpleasantness at all and ban competitive events entirely? Let's ask Tibetans what they think of this type of Maoism.
We'll agree to disagree on this. Just know this….the chanting of USA is used when the USA is playing a team from the non USA. And the chant of "Arizona" that you refer to, was also used as a racially degrading remark. Chant the school name…fine. This was racist. Here's the story when it's not simplified for the readers and viewers of FOX 'news".
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2012/03/07/when-chanting-usa-at-a-sporting-event-is-a-racist-cheer/
"Alamo Heights superintendent Kevin Brown did point out there were Hispanics involved in the “USA!” chant, too."
^^^This^^^
If the "offended" students were Americans, there was not a reason in the world for them to get their gym shorts in a twist. And calling immigration legislation "Draconian" isn't exactly unprejudiced journalism, is it?
I didn't say it was. I posted it to show you that the chant wasn't about just chanting "Arizona" out of state pride. I'm done. You wanna tell these kids that it's okay to be hate spouting rednecks then you go ahead. I already can't believe I even dedicated this much time to anything on a FOX news story. Agree to disagree.
Agree. And getting news from as many different sources as I can helps me see the world from a better, more rounded perspective, I think. Have a good day, Matt.
Agree. And getting news from as many different sources as I can helps me see the world from a better, more rounded perspective, I think. Have a good day, Matt.
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!!! How come it wasn't racist when school kids got into trouble for wearing American flags on their clothes in a CA school on cinco de Mayo???? hmmmmmmmmmmm???
What the hell is wrong with these school officials and coaches? Feeding into the "victim" mentality and alleging racism with Every Single Incident only creates division and feeds into the forces that are ripping this country and everything it stands for apart. Those school officials should take this "teachable moment" to encourage patriotism and what it means to immigrate to a country.
USA, USA, USA, USA. And I'm proud to be a part of the USA. Those who are offended, including administrators, can move to another country.
Since when is "USA" a race? They should be more upset by the fact that the name "USA" offended these students. They are here, they are in the USA and benefiting from being in the USA. This is yet another example of our state mollycoddling Mexicans. When are we going to finally grow a set and tell all of them "Fine, you want to live here and be an American citizen? Then embrace our culture – learn English and speak it, respect our flag and be a contributing citizen." After all, this is an English speaking nation and it irritates me that we are being told that we should learn Spanish, and when you get right down to the nitty-gritty of things, the American Indian is the true "Native" of North America and its a federal offense for them to speak their languages, even in their own homes. Talk about racist!
Granted – the students used a bad choice of words for their chant, but lets be honest here – "ALAMO, ALAMO" would have been deemed racially motivated as well. If my Texas History book was correct, the Battle of the ALAMO was part of how TEXAS won its independence from MEXICO. And I find it a bit odd that the article doesn't mention the ethnicity of the "offending" students. I've been in San Antonio and the city as a whole is predominantly Mexican, so chances are pretty good that those students could have just as easily been Mexican as they could have been white…. Food for thought!
too often, the liberal media highlights meaningless events to incite tensions socially and politically… this is one of the many cases… 96% of Edison students are latino and a local radio station suggests that most on the BB team were illegals ( means criminals)…. 39% of Alamo Heights HS is latino with some on the team and some chanting. THEY say this has been chanted at many games in the past since Homer Simpson first started the chant in the 1980's… but only now are they be called on it.
To me, obviously PC… and the school administrators and media should be ashamed of themselves.
I would have to guess that the students have a far better idea of what is going on here than the Administrators.
too often, the liberal media highlights meaningless events to incite tensions socially and politically… this is one of the many cases… 96% of Edison students are latino and a local radio station suggests that most on the BB team were illegals ( means criminals)…. 39% of Alamo Heights HS is latino with some on the team and some chanting. THEY say this has been chanted at many games in the past since Homer Simpson first started the chant in the 1980's… but only now are they be called on it.
To me, obviously PC… and the school administrators and media should be ashamed of themselves.
I would have to guess that the students have a far better idea of what is going on here than the Administrators.
WTF? We ain't the United States of Mexico! Yet!
never would I have ever thought I would live to see it "bad" to be patriotic towards our beloved country…
Makes no goddamn sense.
I was at the game – plenty of chants going back and forth. What's not reported is one of the players from the Alamo Heights team was attending the game in a wheelchair, paralyzed from a incident last year. He was cheering for his teammates – his name is Eddie Moreno. Did anyone interview him and ask his opinion? USA! USA! USA!
This is nothing but rampant political correctness. I'll chant it for them "USA, USA, USA, USA, USA!"
Shut up you freaking cry baby idiots. This is America. If you don't like it or our citizens nationalism. Move.
Wow I didnt realize usa was a race I would post a big sign in front of the school that said usa
Wow I didnt realize usa was a race I would post a big sign in front of the school that said usa
Soo…. Chanting USA! at a basketball game in the USA is racist? That takes alot of assuming and chips on the shoulder to come to that conclusion but I say the people who did chant it are a bunch of doochbags. Not racist, just idiots. There's alot of those around these days.
Anymore in this country, just waking up is racist. I find it odd that now that we have elected a black prez, the term racist is flung out at every opportunity. Could the fact that Obama was elected have anything to do with racism. Hmmm. Now there's a thought.
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I would have NEVER apologized! PERIOD!
Damn!, and this is happening in Texas?
And "Screw you" Gil Garza you overly sensitive divisive race-baiter. USA USA USA!
Tony, these were both Texas schools. When my daughter's high school plays another team, we hollar "Go Cougars". Makes you wonder why they were chanting "USA, USA" against another American school., We only do that when we are playing against another country. The kids in the croud were wrong, and everyone knows why they did it. But I agree, this issue should have been handled internally.
The game was over. The award ceremony was over. The other team was gone. The chant lasted less than 10 seconds. Chants went back and forth all game. Gil Garza made a big deal out of nothing.
Go Cougars! Playing in Austin tomorrow, if they win, championship game this Saturday!
i read this and went wtf…? it reminded me of the school in cali that sent kids home for wearing t-shirts with American flags on them. something is seriously wrong when you cannot honor your country by wearing a shirrt with a flag or a simple chant after a game.
AHHS plays Dallas Kimball tonight in Austin – "go Mules".
Dave Lewis …."and everyone knows why they did it." DO you for sure know? Could there be two sides to this story!? Could it have been a retaliatory chant because of what they had been called at the game? Many are reporting that the losing team was using racist terms first…As a long time athlete participating in sports in the southwest, I have experienced this many times from teams that were primarily of one race. My team was multi-racial, but we still got the comments since there were white folk on the team.
When has USA, USA ever been racist! What is our country coming to!
Just another example of the fact that we're too dumb to survive.
I cannot deal with this type of apologetic behavior! If USA, USA, USA is offensive maybe we should take it a step back and not have a contest at all.. so we can teach our young that life has no winners or losers no chance to be more or over come the odds. Being proud of who and what you are seems to be fine as long as is it not an American that is thankful for all you have.
So its okay for Mexicans to disgrace the American flag, but when AMERICANS are proud of where they are from, its a problem? These illegals are more trouble then they are worth, and so are all the kids they are having. They want to throw in our faces that they have a right to be here and should be getting welfare and all the free stuff they do get, and then its a problem to be American. Unbelievable.
I am almost sure they wouldn't do that if they had just beated another school with all white kids.
DAMN RIGHT
USA is now politically incorrect? This is sad our country just continues to slide down a horrible path. When our we going to stop adjusting America so others feel good.
That's what happens when people of a certain nationality brazenly brake another's immigration laws. Most of the law-breakers openly chant "Mexico" and wear pro-Mexican shirts on Cinco de Mayo, but kids who want to wear their USA shirts on that day are banned! That's the double – standard. If these latino kids thought of themselves as Americans, they wouldn't be INSULTED by other students wearing their USA shirts on Cinco de Mayo – that is a Mexican nationals celebration day and has nothing to do with the U.S. Most latino kids want to take over the U.S. and do not love or respect it. The students who were chanting USA at the game know this about most Latinos, and that is why they did it. They live among them and know their mindset. Again, don't break our immigration laws, respect our laws once u get here legally, and no one will chant "USA" over you because u will be part of the USA,
The rant was intended to hurt the other school members. There is nothing to be proud about here. So much for good sportsmanship and developing an overall sense of community.
Hell no, keep chanting USA, USA! All the students should have been chanting with pride! San Antonio is part of the USA, and should be pledging to the United States of America every morning in SA schools. WTF is wrong with the people ashamed of the US? Move to Canada, or Europe, or….
I don't think they know this there in the U.S.A ya don't like it get the f#$k out but I would be damned if I would of apologize shit I would of did the same thing started yelling loader USA USA USA DOn't LIKE IT GET OUT OF THE USA USA USA!