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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Parents are calling for change after the Reynolds High School girls’ basketball team pulled out of their game against Sandy on Thursday after they said people in the stands started yelling at them racial slurs.
Now the parents of one of the players want to highlight the intolerance that can exist even in youth sports.
Parents Brian and Natalie Glenn say the racist naming of the stands was bad enough, but they were also deeply troubled and frustrated after claiming the administrators had done nothing. Essentially, they say, forcing Team Reynolds to leave.
“I wouldn’t think now with so much that’s happened over the last few years that my child would be subject to this as a youth sport,” Natalie Glenn said.
Glenn says the varsity girls’ basketball game at Sandy turned into a nightmare for Reynolds’ team when his daughter says she heard people in the stands shouting racial slurs – including calling them the N-word. “Sport is our community, it represents who we are, it represents our students and the passion they have for what they do,” explained Natalie Glenn.
Glenn found a Sandy admin and asked that those viewers be sent home, but that didn’t happen.
“Our daughter comes up to us and says ‘I think we’re going to go ahead and quit the game’ and she’s crying at this point,” Natalie said.
Brian Glenn explained “the student body and the lack of any administration to correct the problem, that’s how we find ourselves here right now.”
The Oregon Trail School District released a statement acknowledging there was an incident during Thursday night’s game.
“Allegations have been made that a student onlooker used racist language. Although we have thoroughly investigated the incident and have been unable to substantiate the accusation, we recognize that it is our responsibility to ensure that every athlete and spectator feels welcome and we respect the integrity of high school athletics,” the school district said.
The district added: ‘We couldn’t do it last night. We have no tolerance for discrimination.