Coaches suspended after anti-Asian taunt during baseball game

A high school east of San Francisco has suspended two baseball coaches after Asian American players on an opposing team were subjected to racist slurs, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

The incident involving Pinole Valley High remains under investigation by the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

Chants of “Baljeet,” an Indian American cartoon character were directed at an Indian American player from Albany High. During the same game, a Chinese American player could hear people screaming “PF Chang, is that you” and “he can’t see through those eyes.”

Pinole Valley High head coach T’won Blake confirmed to the Chronicle that he received a letter of suspension along with an assistant coach. He denies hearing the chant and said he would have stopped it if he did. He also questioned whether the offenders were members of his team or fans in the stand.

In an interview with ABC7 News, Blake said “I’m a Black man born and raised and I’ll never be anything else. But Black people know the history of what racism and bigotry have done to my culture and my people. I’ll never stand by and never let anyone do anything in the name of race or bigotry.”

Blake also says he spoke to the Albany High players a couple of days after the incident and apologized for whatever happened.

Parents of Albany High as well as the Albany High School District are not satisfied with the punishment handed out calling it “insufficient given the severity of the incident,” according to the Chronicle quoting from an email from the district.

Some parents say they want the players suspended, not the coaches and others have suggested Pinole Valley should be forced to forfeit games or to be suspended from the playoffs or the rest of the season.

In a statement, the West Contra County Unified School District said “We are working to determine which individuals will be held directly accountable for the reported insults. In the meantime, the PVHS administrative team has taken steps to reinforce expectations with athletes, coaches, and spectators to ensure that behavior at sporting events reflects a climate of mutual respect, good sportsmanship, and positive support for all participants.”