School districts in Yuba City and Amador County will begin education and training programs for students and staff following racist incidents this fall involving their respective football teams, the Associated Press reported.
“There are vital messages about race, discrimination, and systemic changes that are necessary to help us turn important corners toward equity, respect, and compassion, critical for our schools today,” said Lee McPeak, principal of River Valley High in Yuba City.
At River Valley, a TikTok video showed football players conducting a mock slave auction. Those involved were suspended, and the team forfeited the remainder of its season.
At Amador High, football players created a group chat called “Kill the Blacks,” resulting in Superintendent Torie Gibson canceling the football season and putting the coach, athletic director and principal on leave.
“We canceled the football season, and we did it for all the right reasons because the behavior is not acceptable,” Gibson told AP. “However, football is an extracurricular activity. It is not a given. It is not a right. It is strictly extra.”
