Update: Danbury Mayor Calls Racist Chant at Wilton Football Game 'Offensive, Teachable Moment'

Update 1:25 p.m.: WILTON, CT — Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton called a recent incident that occurred between Wilton and Danbury High School students "outrageous" and "deeply offensive to our community." Wilton High School principal Robert O’Donnell told parents Monday that a group of Wilton High School seniors were heard chanting “Build the wall” at Danbury High School students.

Mayor Boughton also said, "An apology to our student body and the community at large would be the teachable thing to do."

Original post 10:30 a.m.: Wilton High School principal Robert O’Donnell informed parents that during last Friday night's home football game, a group of students was heard chanting “Build the wall” at Danbury High School students, according to a report on Good Morning Wilton.

President-elect Donald Trump often said the phrase during his campaign, referencing his desire to build a wall at the U.S. border with Mexico. Trump supporters chanted it during rallies and appearances, and in Michigan, Royal Oak Middle School students made national news when they broke out into a fiery "build the wall" chant in the cafeteria on Nov. 9. The principal of that school posted a message in a three-minute video on YouTube in which he said:

"We build bridges, we work together, we push each other, respect each other, we help each other. This is who we are. Let's learn from our worst and grow to be our best."

O’Donnell told Good Morning Wilton that the students accused of chanting the phrase at the football game were seniors and the students involved in the chanting "denied offensive intent."

O'Donnell said in a letter to parents, "We recognize that many will feel offended by this particular phrase. We recognize that sentiments continue to run high post-election; as educators, our mission is to help students create dialogue and understanding around controversy and contention. As a result, we will use this incident as a teachable moment, and foster discussion around the rights and corresponding responsibilities inherent in members of a civil society."

Read the full report here.

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