New Trier High School fans allegedly directed racist and homophobic comments toward the Evanston Township High School marching band during the two schools’ rivalry gridiron showdown at Ryan Field on Friday, school officials said.
It’s the latest incident involving apparent racial taunts at high school sports games in the region. On Friday, the Illinois High School Association announced that it put Lincoln-Way East in south suburban Frankfort on probation for the school year, after similar incidents against Homewood-Flossmoor at recent sports events.
Friday night’s game in Evanston pit the two North Shore rivals against each other at Northwestern University’s just-opened, rebuilt Ryan Field. The Trevians defeated Evanston 42-28 at a game that reportedly sold more than 27,000 tickets.
During the game, New Trier fans reportedly made those “offensive” comments at the Evanston marching band. Members of the band told WMAQ-Ch. 5 that the New Trier students shouted racial slurs at them.
The two schools announced Sunday in a joint statement that they would investigate the reports and asked anyone who had “firsthand information” to tell the schools.
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“Both districts are committed to addressing these reports with the seriousness they deserve, upholding our shared values, and ensuring that respect, dignity, and accountability remain fundamental expectations in our school communities,” the statement reads.