Community outraged after “trash talk” allegedly turned to “racist bashing” at Blackfoot/Skyline basketball game

Editor's Note: As per Zyan's guardian's wishes, Local News 8 has not included his last name in this story:

UPDATE: Local News 8 is now hearing from the alleged target of racial harassment at a local high school basketball game, a student named Zyan and his guardian.

"At that point, I didn't know the whole story," Zyan's legal guardian Krystal Hansen told Local News 8. "So when Zyan came out of the locker room and he collapsed in my arms, I didn't have to ask any questions. I knew something terrible had happened."

Zyan, a standout athlete, says he experienced racial taunting during a January 29th basketball game at Skyline High School. 

Zyan's guardian Krysta, also known as Mama K, says neither School District 91 nor District 55 have done enough to protect her son from harassment. 

So she turned to the community to shed light on what happened. 

"So I've been working behind the scenes this whole time. My Facebook post was my last resort. Like, I've gone through all of the avenues that I needed to and was not getting anywhere. And I wanted to give each district the benefit of the doubt to do the right thing. And I still don't feel like they have," said Hansen

The Blackfoot School District updated their response to the allegations against their students on their Facebook page the day after my initial report.

It includes this statement…

"In response, we took proactive steps to reinforce positive sportsmanship, including disciplinary actions where appropriate and working with district #91 to ensure a respectful atmosphere at future games.  Additionally, we have strengthened expectations for student conduct to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all athletes and spectators."

In a voicemail left by Blackfoot Superintendent Brian Kress, he tells Local News 8 disciplinary actions have been taken and they have done everything asked by D91 to handle the situation.

He says he can't go into detail on what those disciplinary actions were, according to federal law. 

The district also said they "found no evidence to support the claim that Blackfoot students directed racial slurs, noises, or gestures at a Skyline player". 

Local News 8 spoke with District 91 trustee Paul Haacke, who says he hasn't spoken with the Blackfoot school district personally, but he has spoken with the Idaho Falls superintendent.

Haacke believes Blackfoot can do more to prevent this from happening.

"I think there's several things that the Blackfoot school district could do. It's an opportunity for them to just pull their kids together, have an assembly, and talk about racism and how racism impacts those who are affected by the things are said about or against. They can address these individuals. I understand they have the names of these individuals who are making these remarks and making these gestures and speak to them directly about the impact that their remarks have made on not only Zyan, but the whole Skyline community."

In an email, Krysta sent to District 55, she asked for three things.

Number one, acknowledge what has happened. Number two, there should be an apology made to Zyan, and number three, that the perpetrators are held responsible. 

None of which she believes were met. 

"I didn't ask for all three to happen. I asked for the very minimum. I want one of these three things to happen, and yet they still cannot," said Hansen.

We received a statement from Zyan, it reads,

Local News 8 spoke with many people who said they witnessed the incident.

Zyan's guardian Krystal tells us the teen boys did not make monkey-like gestures, as some witnesses had told Local News 8; rather, they made whipping hand motions and sounds at him.

They say racial slurs were not shouted but were said to him.

Zion says he does not want to be the face for this story. He says he just wants to see a change in the community.

UPDATE:

The Blackfoot School District has released another statement regarding the incident at the Skyline/Blackfoot basketball game.

We want to assure the Skyline and Blackfoot communities of our commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all athletes and spectators.  When concerns were raised regarding student conduct at the Blackfoot/Skyline boys’ basketball game, we took them seriously.  Following a thorough investigation – including reviewing game footage from both schools and interviewing referees, students, players, administrators, spectators, coaches, and parents – we found no evidence to support the claim that Blackfoot students directed racial slurs, noises, or gestures at a Skyline player.  However, we recognized that certain chants and gestures may have been misinterpreted and were not in line with our values of respect and sportsmanship.
In response, we took proactive steps to reinforce positive sportsmanship, including disciplinary actions where appropriate and working with District #91 to ensure respectful atmosphere at future games.  Additionally, we have strengthened expectations for student conduct to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all athletes and spectators.
We remain dedicated to promoting inclusivity and respect within our school and community and will continue working with students, staff, and families to uphold these values.

In addition to this statement, I will make some additions.  We have had multiple conversations with District 91 officials regarding this incident.  We have done everything that they have asked of us, including student discipline. - District #55 Superintendent of Schools Brian Kress.

In their initial statement, the Blackfoot School District did not mention disciplinary action, only stating the district found no evidence that "Blackfoot students directed racial slurs, noises, or gestures at a Skyline player..." and certain "chants and gestures may have been misinterpreted."

ORIGINAL:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) - Students, parents, and community members are outraged over an incident at a Skyline High School basketball game against Blackfoot High School. Parents are expressing their concern over allegations of the rival student section's trash talk turning into racial harassment.

Social media posts detail and witnesses at the game told Local News 8 that a group of teenage boys started shouting racist slurs at Skyline Basket player Zyan, who is black.

The boys allegedly made crude hand gestures and mimicked "whipping motions" towards the Skyline student.

Comments on social media say this has been an ongoing issue for years at Blackfoot High School, and concerned parents haven't seen the district take action.

The Blackfoot School District issued the following statement in response to the social media attention:

"We found no evidence to support the claim that Blackfoot students directed racial slurs, noises, or gestures at a skyline player... However, we recognized that certain chants and gestures may have been misinterpreted and were not in line with our values of respect and sportsmanship," - Blackfoot School District #55

No disciplinary actions have been taken. 

D91 board member Paul Haacke says the community "must do better."

"I can't speak for them (School District #55). I don't know exactly what they've received, but I do know that they have been given information, specifically the names of the students that were involved, and very credible information from students who were also in that group of students who recognized this as wrong. And those students have come forward. They're aware of that. So I hope they will take that information and act accordingly," said Haacke.

Local News 8 has reached out to the Blackfoot School District for comment and is awaiting a response.

On Wednesday evening, Local News 8's Ariel Jensen talks with Zyan's legal guardian about how the experience has affected the young man. This is a developing story that Local News 8 will continue to update.