Port High ballplayer punished for racial slur

A Port Washington High School junior  varsity baseball player who uttered a racial slur during a May 24 game against Nicolet High School was suspended from several games and had to write a letter of apology to the school and participate in a peer mediation program run by the school’s multicultural club, Principal Thad Gabrielse said.

“We dealt with it immediately, and the student faced significant consequences,” he said. “The really important part of those consequences is the educational component. We need to continue to educate our kids so they make better decisions and treat all people with respect and kindness.”

After reaching first base during the game played in Port Washington, the player used the N-word or a variation of it, Gabrielse said, adding that he is not sure in what context the slur was used.

“Regardless, it all comes down to the fact we can never use racial slurs,” he said. 

Gabrielse said a student who was watching the game reported the incident to him that night. At about the same time, the coach reported it to Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Nate Hinze.

“The coach really didn’t understand initially what was said, but after being told about it he dealt with it in the dugout, then reported it to Nate,” Gabrielse said.

Gabrielse and Supt. Michael Weber said there is no excuse for the use of racial slurs but both took issue with a statement issued by Nicolet School District Supt. Greg Kabara on May 28.

In the statement, Kabara acknowledged the fact that the “Port Washington administration has reacted to this incident and the student has since apologized,” but went on to say, “We are deeply concerned, however, that this is not the first time that our students have been subjected to similar behavior from Port Washington students.”

Kabara was referring to a Feb. 13, 2019, basketball game at Port High during which dozens of students held up photos of Nicolet star Jalen Johnson wearing a charcoal face mask that made it appear as if he were wearing blackface as they taunted him with chants of “overrated.”

  Photos of dozens of screaming Port High students holding the photo of Johnson went viral on social media and the incident was the subject of news coverage throughout the country.

The incident was interpreted by many as being racially motivated, although it was described as unsportsmanlike behavior by Port High students who wrote a letter of apology to Johnson.

“We would like to sincerely apologize to you, your family and friends for the unsportsmanlike behavior that you received from our student section,” the hand-written letter read. “We realize that our actions to single you out (were) done in poor judgement, and we are very sorry.”

Weber on Tuesday characterized Kabara’s statement about the baseball game as divisive and counterproductive.

“It’s unfortunate when statements are made that are not conducive to partnerships and cooperation, and when those public statements divide us rather than pull us together at a time in our country when we need to pull back together,” Weber said.

In his statement, Kabara went on to say, “It is our hope that the Port Washington administration will take this situation seriously and demand a culture of respect and inclusion to teach their community that racism is unacceptable and should never be tolerated.”

Weber called the implication that the School District and community are not addressing racism and fostering inclusion “unfounded and unfair.” 

“Look at what our city council is doing to encourage inclusion with its Diversity Committee and what we’ve done at all grade levels,” he said. “It’s pretty impressive.”

Gabrielse said judgments about an entire school should not be made based on the actions of one student.

“To make a statement that implies our high school as a whole has a problem when a student made a mistake and we took steps to educate him is disappointing,” he said.