Fairfax Schools Launch Inquiry After New Racial Slur Complaint

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Schools pledged Wednesday to investigate allegations of the use of racially charged language after multiple incidents of football players enrolled at Fairfax County schools allegedly using racial slurs against players on opposing teams.

In the most recent case, students and parents of junior varsity football players at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria reportedly said that a player for James W. Robinson Jr. Secondary School in Burke used the N-word and spat on a player for T.C. Williams near the end of a game on Monday.

Last month, players on the Wakefield High School varsity football team in Arlington accused players on George C. Marshall High School’s team of using racial slurs at a March 5 game on Marshall's campus near Tysons Corner. Marshall’s head coach and parents of the team's players have denied the allegations.

Fairfax County Public Schools, in the April 7 letter, said it will be holding a “stand-down” meeting for all athletic teams and coaches to demonstrate appropriate conduct to play sports in the Fairfax County school system.

“This is not about one team versus another; it is about our responsibilities to one another as members of a community,” the school system said.

FCPS emphasized that it “embraces diversity and strongly condemns hate speech and offensive, hateful language or racial intolerance of any kind on the sports fields, in school buildings or anywhere on or off school premises.”

“We will hold anyone found to have used such language while representing any of our schools accountable for their words and actions,” the school system said. “FCPS will investigate any incidents thoroughly and will be taking swift and appropriate action if deemed necessary.”

Under Virginia High School League rules, players heard using racial slurs will be ejected and suspended for additional games. Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in an immediate review of the game by officials and coaches.

RELATED: Marshall HS Coach, Parents Mobilize Against Allegations Of Racism

In a memo to T.C. Williams parents sent Wednesday, Alexandria Public Schools Superintendent Gregory C. Hutchings Jr. said his school system is working closely with FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand to find out what happened at Monday's game with Robinson, The Washingtonian reported Wednesday.

According to the report, T.C. Williams Principal Peter Balas sent a note to students Tuesday saying school officials have “talked with students and coaching staff who were involved or witnessed the incident and have also been in touch with athletics staff at the school of the opposing team."

In last month's game, Arlington County school officials said referees working the game at Marshall High School's stadium lost control and did not take necessary action after Marshall players allegedly spat upon and used racial slurs against Wakefield players. The game ended with a fight breaking out between the teams.

"The blatant acts of racism and disrespect towards the Wakefield players are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán said in a statement March 19.

Jason Strickland, Marshall's head coach, said he and his staff did not hear any racial slurs or see any spitting by his players alleged by the Wakefield team.

"We saw it was very competitive between the two players throughout the game," Strickland, a math teacher at Marshall, said in a message sent to Marshall Statesmen parents. "But at no point did we see or hear any of the accusations that are being said about our players, coaches, or parents."

A group called Concerned Parents of Marshall High School Varsity Football Players issued a statement in which it noted that FCPS completed its investigation into the allegations against the Marshall players in late March. The investigative process included interviews with players, coaches, game officials and sideline volunteers as well as a review of game film and photographs.

All allegations made by the Wakefield players were found to be unsubstantiated, according to the parents group. Marshall Interim Principal Augie Frattali told Marshall football parents in a telephone call on March 24 that the school "conducted a full review, and we could not corroborate or substantiate the allegations that racial slurs or spitting happened on the field," according to the parents.

A video released by the parents group on March 30 included a recording of a person identified as Dr. Amielia Mitchell, executive principal of Region 2 for FCPS, who stated, "We really could not corroborate or substantiate the allegations."