Reported racist taunting outrages aldermen
SOMERVILLE JOURNAL
By Meghann Ackerman
Friday, February 9, 2007
Outraged that racial and derogatory chants were yelled at the Somerville boys' basketball team by Arlington fans, the Board of Aldermen wants to know why city and school officials reportedly did not step in to end the jeers.
"It's like a southern Mississippi town in the 1950s," said Alderman-at-Large Bruce Desmond, whose son is an assistant coach with the team. "This gets me to a point where I never get. I never get this upset."
At Thursday night's BOA meeting Desmond and Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston submitted as resolution that the "Mayor investigate with the Middlesex County District Attorney and the MIAA, why member of the High School boys basketball team were subjected to racist and derogatory chants from Arlington High School fans during a Feb. 6 game, and why no one from the Arlington School of Police Depts. Intervened." The entire board expressed anger at the event and signed on to the resolution. Alderman-at-Large William White asked that the resolution also be sent to the School Committee so that they could sign on.
"What he described to me was something I really didn't think happened anymore," said Heuston about learning of the incident from Desmond.
Desmond told the board that Somerville players were asked by their coaches if they wanted to leave when the taunting started. The team elected to stay.
"They beat the team like the ignorant rented mules they acted like by 20 points," he said. "Not one kid from Somerville acted out in anger."
Desmond said he was working on getting a tape of the game on which the jeers could be heard.
"I want someone held responsible," he said.
Multiple aldermen suggested the matter be sent to a committee so that it could be followed up on.
"This thing is so upsetting that I don't know where to send it," said BOA president Bob Trane. The resolution was sent to the Committee on Youth Services, which is chaired by Heuston. Desmond and Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz are also on the committee.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) has guidelines prohibiting taunting. The MIAA rule book describes taunting as "any actions or comments by coaches, players, or spectators which are intended to bait, anger, embarrass, ridicule, or demean others, whether or not the deeds or words are vulgar or racist. Included is conduct that berates, needles, intimidates, or threatens based on race, gender, ethnic origin or background, and conduct that attacks religious beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, special needs, or personal characteristics."
Having worked with the MIAA, Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero said it is the responsibility of school officials to monitor their fans.
"If these things are not quelled, the worst things happen when you open the gym doors," he said.