In a now-viral video clip, white students from Warrensburg High School located in Warrensburg, Missouri, can be seen turning their backs as the black students on Center High School’s basketball team are introduced before a game on the night of Dec. 12. In addition to the blatant act of disrespect, a Donald Trump sign was even being held up at the time.
Smh .. shout out to warrensburg high school for making national news. And on wshh. Lol. disrespectful ass kids
— D.J. Ward (@DeeejW) December 15, 2016
Stay Kkklassy, Warrensburg High School. https://t.co/mlk80HpPWD
— Malcolm Johnson (@admiralmpj) December 15, 2016
@Chiefs and @Royals why don’t you send a few African-Americans athletes to Warrensburg High School to discuss racism.
— Ray (@RaykelT) December 14, 2016
If your child was part of the idiotic display of bigotry at Warrensburg Mo. High School U need to teach your child right and wrong! Grow up!
— J Kling (@jkling19555555) December 14, 2016
This Warrensburg High School stuff out of control now !
— Micah Hayes (@hicahmayes) December 14, 2016
WARRENSBURG HIGH SCHOOL IS RACIST!!! 😡 PERIOD @CityWarrensburg
— JAMERICE (@thervla) December 13, 2016
Warrensburg isn’t sorry 😂😂 they treat the black students that go to Warrensburg High just like they treated the kids of Center High School
— Maison Devries (@BeastDevries) December 13, 2016
@mdulaney98 warrensburg is full of racist people. Going to that high school and only dating a black guy I got called a lot of names.
— kels (@__kells_) December 13, 2016
And while the school HAS apologized, some seem to think these student’s actions are inexcusable. “That was just uncalled for and not needed,” Warrensburg senior Gunner Joyner told local ABC station KMBC. “It’s not the reflection of everyone in the school.” And the school relayed the same message in their apology statement issued on Dec. 13.
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“Members of our student body acted inappropriately and were insensitive toward our opponents,” the statement, which was posted to Facebook read. “The Warrensburg R-VI School District does not condone these actions and apologizes to anyone who was offended by the actions of these students. We will do everything we can to keep incidents like this from happening again.”
However, while Warrensburg Superintendent Scott Patrick told the Kansas City Star that the students have a tradition of turning their backs on opponents, which he called “unsportsmanlike,” he thinks this particular incident went one step further and crossed the line in a whole new way.
“I think in this case, [the Trump sign] was really the difference in what took this from something that was unsportsmanlike to something that was insensitive, not necessary, and inappropriate,” Scott told the newspaper. He also made sure to tell the local NBC station, 41 Action News, that there would be “consequences” for the students involved. Those consequences have not been specified.
Center High School ended up winning the game against Warrensburg 66-62. With the video of their unsportsmanlike behavior gaining national attention when it was posted to Facebook by Toniaa Lakylia Nunn. “I have never been to a game that the other team turned their backs on their opponents,” she wrote. “Never seen it a day in my life, until i stepped foot into Warrensburg High School last night! Glad i graduated from a school with so much respect and SPORTSMANSHIP!!”
Tell us, HollywoodLifers — are you appalled by the actions of these high school students?