Full Breakdown
Alleged Racist and Homophobic Harassment at Evan Township–New Trier Football Game
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
During a recent high-school football matchup at Northwestern University’s Ryan Field, members of the Evanston Township High School (ETH HS) marching band and color guard reported racist slurs, homophobic epithets and other offensive behavior by New Trier supporters. Band members said the harassment began as they entered the stadium and continued after the game, including an incident in which a student was spat on while walking away. The game, which drew more than 27,000 spectators, ended with New Trier defeating ETH HS 42-28.
Official Statements & Responses
Both school districts issued a joint statement acknowledging the reports and confirming a collaborative investigation. District officials pledged to protect student privacy during the review and to determine appropriate next steps once the investigation concludes.
The Illinois High School Association, which oversees interscholastic athletics in the state, announced that it placed Lincoln-Way East on probation for the current school year after similar incidents of racial taunting at recent events, underscoring a broader concern about harassment at high-school sports venues.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They were throwing trash, and they were saying the stuff to Kevin, obviously, and they were also calling like N words and saying that we need to die, we need to kill ourselves,” — Ifeoluwa Dada, ETH HS band member
- “Immediately when we walked out, they were screaming 'F U' at us over and over again, which was a bit jarring. But when I turned around, there was a guy who looked at me and called me the F slur,'” — Kevin Watts, color guard co-captain, ETH HS
- “There is no place for racism or homophobia in our schools, at our events, or anywhere that our students are representing themselves or their schools,” — Reine Hannah, communications director, ETH HS
Impact and Community Reaction
Students and parents described the episode as “open discrimination” and called for zero tolerance of racism and homophobia in school settings. The incident has sparked community concern about the safety of student performers at athletic events and the need for clearer policies to prevent harassment. School officials indicated that the investigation’s findings could inform future preventative measures and disciplinary actions for those responsible.
Next Steps
The joint investigation by the two districts remains ongoing, with no public timeline for completion. Both schools have asked anyone with firsthand information to contact administrators, and they have pledged to keep the process confidential while determining any further actions based on the findings.