Girls basketball players from a private Jewish high school in New York recently experienced a disturbing incident of antisemitic taunts during a game against a public school team. The incident, which led to the cancellation of the game, highlights the ongoing issue of hate speech and discrimination in sports.
According to a New York Post exclusive, players from The Leffell School in Hartsdale, NY, were subjected to offensive comments such as “I support Hamas, you f–king Jew” and “Free Palestine” by their opponents from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers. Robin Bosworth, a senior at The Leffell School, described the first half of the game as a “somewhat hostile environment,” with more jabs and comments directed at her team than she had ever experienced before.
The situation escalated in the third quarter when Roosevelt players shouted antisemitic slurs and curses at the Leffell team. One player even went as far as saying, “I support Hamas, you f–king Jew.” The New York Public Schools Alliance, a parent-teacher group dedicated to fighting antisemitism, reported this incident.
In response to the hateful remarks, Leffell’s head coach, John Tessitore, made the decision to end the game early. The school’s head, Michael Kay, addressed the incident in a letter to the school community, stating that a small number of players from the opposing team directed hurtful antisemitic comments towards Leffell’s team.
Roosevelt’s athletic director, Kyle Calabro, apologized for the incident and assured that there would be swift and appropriate follow-up actions. The principal of Roosevelt High School, Edward DeChent, also apologized to Michael Kay and outlined disciplinary consequences and educational responses, including the possibility of an in-person meeting between both teams.
Despite the distressing incident, Michael Kay expressed pride in the way Leffell’s players and coaching staff handled the situation. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and combating hate speech and discrimination in sports.
Antisemitism and other forms of discrimination have no place in our society, let alone in a sports setting. It is crucial for schools, athletic organizations, and communities to actively promote inclusivity, respect, and tolerance. By fostering an environment that values diversity and condemns hate speech, we can ensure that incidents like this become rare occurrences rather than the norm.
