Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Politics/National
NationalNewsRace

South Dakota School Cancels Homecoming After Racist Stunt

Posted byBy Associated Press | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Courtesy of Twitter

STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota high school has forfeited its homecoming football game against a school from a nearby American Indian reservation and has canceled its homecoming dance and parade after photos posted on social media show students destroying a car with “Go back to the Rez” painted on the side.

Sturgis Brown High School was scheduled to play Pine Ridge School, from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, on Friday. On Thursday, the Meade School Board voted 8-0 to cancel all remaining activities to avoid the potential that students could be put in danger, the Rapid City Journal reported.

Sturgis Principal Pete Wilson told The Associated Press that he learned of the posts Wednesday evening, saying the actions of a few reflect poorly on the school and that the situation “hurts the student body.”

“It’s the worst day I’ve ever had,” said Wilson, adding that discipline would occur “after we figure out everything.”

Superintendent Don Kirkegaard said: “I can’t defend those actions, but I can try my best to make sure it never happens again.” He said the district is working with police to determine who was responsible.

Pine Ridge Principal Michael Carlow commended Kirkegaard for taking responsibility and for his efforts to address the issue.

A photo shows people hitting a car with sledgehammers. The ritual used to be homecoming tradition but is no longer sponsored by the school, according to the newspaper.

Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater said the department is working with school officials to provide assistance. VanDewater added that “at this point, there’s not anything criminal,” but police are “looking through it thoroughly before we make judgment.”

Kirkegaard, the school board and the district’s administration and staff apologized for the actions of a “few students” from the high school in a joint statement, the Rapid City Journal reported.

“We do not support, teach nor endorse the inappropriate behaviors and actions that occurred Wednesday evening. We are appalled and disgusted by the racist comments that appeared on social media,” the statement said.

Wilson said there was an assembly Thursday morning at the school, which state fall 2016 enrollment numbers say had about 685 students. Wilson said officials are planning cultural awareness assemblies throughout the entire district.

Still independent.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top