See where chanting ‘U-S-A!’ not allowed
‘We don’t want to start a race war’
By Kevin DeAnna
Chanting the name of your own country is now prohibited.
Basketball players at Alamo Heights High School defeated San Antonio Edison in Texas on Saturday. In jubilation, Alamo Heights students began chanting “USA, USA!”
School officials immediately stopped the chant because they believed it was disrespectful.
Reporter Brian Mylar’s article at KSAT.com was headlined “Racial incident mars high school game” and termed it a “disturbing incident.”
However, in an interview with WND, he admitted he was not actually at the event and the report was based on video.
In interview with WND, Mylar commented that there were no racial chants, but the chant of “USA” was taken by some to be racial.
When asked if the other team’s fans had responded in any way, he said that he did not know because he was not at the event and the report was based on video. He also stated that he did not know if the predominantly Hispanic fans of San Antonio had chanted anything that caused Alamo Heights fans to respond in this way, as “I don’t know. We don’t want to start a race war.”
According to the San Antonio Independent News, the chant of “USA” lasted about five seconds before being silenced by the coach of Alamo Heights.
The Edison team also was already in the locker room. However, San Antonio Independent School District Athletic Director Gil Garza filed a complaint with the University Interscholastic League on Tuesday.
This is not unique for the area, as both Mylar and the San Antonio Independent News referenced an incident the prior year when the predominantly white Cedar Park High School chanted “USA” and “Arizona” at the fans of mostly the mostly Hispanic Lanier High from San Antonio.
USA vs. Mexico soccer games have also become a scene of tension, with the U.S. team taking for granted that games in Los Angeles are “Mexican home games” and Mexican fans chanting “Osama” and throwing urine and vomit at the American players.
School officials of both districts immediately condemned the students. According to Mylar, San Antonio Independent School District spokeswoman Leslie Price stated, “It is surprising and it’s disappointing to hear that anyone would be out there making those kinds of remarks.”
Alamo Heights Supt. Kevin Brown also apologized, saying, “We just hope that people know that that’s not who we are and we’re not going to let it happen again.”
Alamo Heights as a school has also apologized and the students identified will be banned from state title games and be forced to apologize, officials said. According to the San Antonio Independent News, some of the Alamo Heights students who chanted “USA” and have been punished are Hispanic.
However, there have been no allegations that any racially insensitive language was used, besides “USA.”
The principal for Alamo Heights declined comment.
Phoebe's Detention Room 