Plan B Forum

Students suspended for racist tweets after basketball game


NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) - Mount Vernon in-bounded the ball. The whistle blew. And Mahopac's season ended. But fans, players, and elected officials from the two communities continued taking shots.

"The Mount Vernon students were standing behind our cheerleaders saying 'you are blank-haters' and 'I can't wait until after the game," said Thomas Manko, the superintendent of schools in Mahopac. "We're going to pull your hair. We're going to hit you.'"

Manko said that Mount Vernon supporters allegedly shoved a Mahopac cheerleader. Both sides agree that fans scuffled in the stands after the final whistle. And Twitter shows that later that night some white Mahopac students tweeted the following about black Mount Vernon players:

"That's why you shouldn't let monkeys out of their cages. #mountvernonzoo" and "Tough loss boys but at least we can talk to our dads about it #mountvernon."

"It's a learning moment and we're going to be giving our students sensitivity training so they understand what the words mean and why they can't use them anymore," Manko said. He suspended three students after they confessed to racist tweets. He said more suspensions could follow as his investigation continues.

"We will not tolerate the bestiality and racism that has existed too long in this country," Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis said a week after the game at a news conference to address the social media activity of Mahopac teenagers. "A bodacious outpouring of insults hurled at our future generation."[WTF? thhis guy is mayor?]

Manko said he would like to assemble coaches, captains, players, and superintendents from both schools for a face-to-face meeting.

Mayor Davis said he'd like to meet with the state to prevent situations like this one in the future.


Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/24899005/s ... z2vEkXtwH0

"We will not tolerate the bestiality and racism that has existed too long in this country,"