Warwick Investigating Allegations of Racism at Pilgrim-Mt. Pleasant Girls Basketball Game
Thursday, January 09, 2020
The Warwick School Department is investigating allegations that fans used racist language — including the n world — when the Mt. Pleasant Girls Basketball team played at Pilgrim High School in Warwick on Tuesday.
Warwick schools Superintendent Phil Thornton told GoLocalProv that while a complaint was not brought specifically to him, that reports on social media prompted him to take action and conduct an investigation.
On Wednesday, Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro took to Facebook to share the following:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"I just copied and pasted this from a post on someone's page. This is what the HELL is WRONG with this state and country...are you frigging kidding me??? I want to know, I demand to know what the Pilgrim principal, the RIISL and the Commissioner have to say about this abhorrent, disgusting display of blatant racism. BTW, this was the SECOND post I read about the game. The first one spoke of fans, grunting, and making 'animal noises" at OUR girls, OUR students. What an absolute disgusting display..."
'Went to the girls basketball game last night at Pilgrim. I have never been more disgusted by human beings and teenagers in my life. The teams at Pilgrim called the Mount Pleasant students the n word, ratchet, they said go back to your ghetto. They pushed the mount teams around and the mount students said nothing. They took it like the strong women they are. Not only was it the team, but it was the crowd, the parents, and the refs. How totally disgusting'
Investigation Underway
“We’re doing a full investigation -- we're interviewing fans, students, refs, scorekeepers, reviewing game film, and reaching out to Providence schools directly,” said Thornton. “We would not condone anything like that.”
Thorton said that the Pilgrim Athletic Director has been in contact with Mt. Pleasant.
“I would think by the end of the week [the investigation] should be done,” said Thorton. “I want to cover all our bases -- the entire gymnasium. There are four bleacher areas [to talk with those in attendance] on top of reviewing the film.”
“I want to know transpired,” he said.
