The local New York branch of the NAACP has determined there is “absolutely no evidence” that an anti-Semitic slur was used during a basketball game at the Jewish school against another public high school.
A high school girls' game between the Leffel School, a private Jewish school in Hartsdale, New York, and Roosevelt High School, a public school in Yonkers, ended after Roosevelt players hurled anti-Semitic slurs at their opponents. It was condemned and ended in the early morning hours of January 4th. The slurs reportedly included, “I support Hamas, you damn Jew.”
Frank Coleman, president of the Yonkers NAACP and a substitute teacher at Roosevelt High School, said he was “rushing to judgment” on the allegations, according to the Journal News.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The incident occurred between Leffel School, a private Jewish school in Hartsdale, New York, and Roosevelt High School, a public school in Yonkers. (St. Petersburg)
“We concluded that there was no evidence that any anti-Semitic slurs were used,” Coleman said. journal news.
Coleman's report called the accusations “false and unfair” and added that both teams were “simply playing basketball.”
Leffel's school principal, Michael Kay, revealed to the Journal News the twist in the investigation. He said the Yonkers NAACP did not contact players, coaches or administrators during the investigation.
“As educators, we strongly share a stated desire to bring communities together for moments of true learning,” Kaye told the outlet. “As educators, we strongly share a stated desire to bring communities together for moments of true learning.”
President Roosevelt fired Brian Williams after the incident. He told News 12 Westchester he was being used as a “scapegoat” for what happened.
New York high school girls basketball game canceled after anti-Semitic slurs directed at players: report
“It gives me a bad impression and makes people who don't know me think I'm a monster, that I hate Jews, that I can't get along in a multicultural world, and that's a lie. .I lied,'' Williams told News 12 Westchester.
Williams said he was told he was fired for “poor management” but there was not much he could do about the player's conduct.
The NAACP did not contact Leffel School, according to the NAACP director. (St. Petersburg)
“I had nothing to do with it. I'm just coaching the team. I can't control what someone says on the court, and neither can most coaches,” he said. .
“The fact that the coach has been severed from employment with the Yonkers Public School District cannot even be fathomed,” Yonkers Interim Superintendent Luis Rodriguez said in a statement.[s] That he participated in, condoned, or tolerated anti-Semitism in all its forms. ”
Robyn Bosworth, a Leffel player who wrote about the incident in the school newspaper of which she is the editor-in-chief, said the first half was a “slightly hostile environment, with a significant increase in the number of jabs and comments thrown at players on the team.” . More than anything I've experienced in the past. ”
Mr Williams said he did not condone such language “at all”.
Both teams lined up to shake hands as the game ended early, Bosworth said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Despite our conflicting feelings about his practice, all members of my team acted with respect and dignity and lined up to shake his hand,” she wrote. “But being forced to shake hands with people who expressed such hatred and say, 'Good game,' didn't sit well with me afterwards.”
FOX News' Ryan Mollick contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcast and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
