'Abhorrent, Offensive' Behavior Doesn't Reflect Frankfort Values: Village

FRANKFORT, IL — The Village of Frankfort has issued a statement after an incident that occurred during the Lincoln-Way East vs. Homewood-Flossmoor High School football game on Friday.

The incident—captured on video by several in the stands during the two teams' varsity game Friday—showed five students making racist taunts, mimicking the movements and sounds of monkeys, flapping their arms and crawling on the ground.

The harassment happened near the end of the 3rd quarter. Students present said the visiting fans also called them monkeys before Homewood-Flossmoor HS staff removed them from the property, school administration said.

The Village said it is aware of the video and the incident, and said the behavior in the video was "abhorrent, offensive, and does not reflect the values of the Village of Frankfort or our residents, students or families."

Lincoln-Way East students are planning a walkout Wednesday, and one Lincoln-Way East student has started an online petition calling for the expulsion of the students involved. It has garnered 428 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

Following an initial statement by Lincoln-Way District 210 on Saturday, Lincoln-Way East Principal Toriano Griggs issued a follow-up letter to parents, calling the students' actions "hurtful and completely unacceptable."

Griggs said he has personally reviewed the videos and spoken with students, families, and others who were present.

"I want to be very clear: the racial slurs, monkey noises, and racist gestures that occurred Friday night were hurtful and completely unacceptable," Griggs said in the letter. "This behavior has no place at Lincoln-Way East or anywhere else."

The Village said Frankfort "is a welcoming community that values its strong, positive relationships with neighboring municipalities, including Homewood-Flossmoor."

"We fully understand why members of the Homewood-Flossmoor community and others were upset by these actions, and we want to state unequivocally that such behavior is not condoned," the Village said.

The school district has said that the students involved have been identified and the district will follow through with its discipline policies and procedures to the fullest extent.

"We hope this does not overshadow the longstanding, positive connections shared between our communities every day. The Village of Frankfort remains dedicated to fostering an environment built with mutual respect where everyone feels valued and welcome," the Village said.

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