Accomack County Issues Statement Following Racist Remarks at Away Game
EXMORE, Va. – Accomack County Public Schools issued a statement on Friday following an incident that occurred during an away game for Arcadia High School’s volleyball team.
On Thursday, Sept. 11, Arcadia High School faced off against Broadwater Academy in a volleyball match. During the game, Arcadia students were reportedly targeted with racial remarks by Broadwater’s student section. The Arcadia volleyball captain wrote in a statement on Facebook that her team was repeatedly on the receiving end of racial slurs; including at least one student yelling out, “Let’s go monkeys!” She also stated that the referees did not take any action after Arcadia students voiced complaints.
Accomack County Public Schools (ACPS) issued a statement on Friday afternoon, addressing the reported comments made at the game. Both schools fall under the ACPS district.
“I have spoken directly with the Head of School at Broadwater Academy, as well as the commissioner of the Volleyball Eastern Shore Officials Association, regarding this incident. The behavior witnessed last night is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Superintendent Dr. Gennifer Miller in the statement. “Moving forward, if such behavior occurs again and is not addressed immediately, our teams will exit the court or field, board the bus, and return home. The safety, dignity, and well-being of our students will always come first.”
District policy was also attached in the statement, and reads, “Offensive language directed towards a staff member or student shall be issued a written warning by the principal and/or designated Supervisor and be told to leave the premises.”
However, Broadwater Academy is disputing the claims levied by Arcadia High students. In a statement emailed to parents on Friday, the academy called Superintendent Dr. Miller’s statement “reckless” and “categorically untrue.” Broadwater also claims that the Eastern Volleyball Association found that “no inappropriate, racist, or unkind remarks were heard or observed during the volleyball contests.” It is important to note that the volleyball associations spoken to by school officials are two separate, unaffiliated organizations.
“Broadwater had six senior faculty members and administrators including the head of the school present throughout the gym and none observed inappropriate behavior,” the school wrote. “These faculty and administrators would not have sat idly by while any sort of the conduct Dr. Miller accuses the students of occurred.”
Additionally, Broadwater said it has consulted with local law enforcement and the Commonwealth’s attorney regarding some of the online activity surrounding the controversy. The school says they are also in discussions with Superintendent Dr. Miller and Arcadia High School Principal, Shaun O’Shea.
Social media erupted over the weekend, with many sending support to the students on Arcadia High’s volleyball team. Several individuals who claim to have been present at the game report hearing the alleged racial remarks. However, others who claim to have been at the game report hearing no inappropriate comments. Some have theorized that students were yelling, “Let’s go Vikings!” and were misheard.
At this time, both schools and ACPS are continuing to investigate the incident.
