Parents at Elmont High School on Long Island are calling for a ban on athletic competitions with the Bellmore-Merrick School District due to longstanding racial issues.
During a recent town hall, the Elmont Parent Teacher Student Association discussed a history of racist behavior, particularly following a February incident during a varsity girls basketball game where an Elmont player, who is Black, was suspended after a scuffle, while the Kennedy player, who is white, faced no immediate consequences.
Although the suspension was later overturned, the incident reignited concerns among Elmont parents about racial hostility from Bellmore-Merrick spectators.
Parents, led by Lynette Battle, cited previous incidents, including racial slurs directed at Elmont cheerleaders and allegations of spitting and refusing to shake hands during games.
They are now demanding that Bellmore-Merrick schools be removed from their athletic schedules starting next fall to address these ongoing issues.