Playing Fair? Spokane Youth Sports Is At The Center Of A Controversy Over Its Handling Of A Recent Racial Incident On A Spokane Soccer Field

In early October, two Spokane Youth Sports soccer teams faced each other on the playing field. The teams, made up of 11-year-old boys, were enjoying the game until someone on the sidelines called a player a “dumb nigger.” Here’s how the incident was investigated and resolved, as revealed through the letters that passed among the involved parties. The boy’s name has been changed to protect his privacy.

Oct. 8, 1998 To Whom It May Concern:

This past weekend, Spokane Youth Sports sponsored a soccer game in which my son John was a participant. During the second half, John missed an attempt to kick the ball. A man on the opposing team’s sideline yelled: “Dumb nigger.” And then he said, “Niggers shouldn’t play soccer.”

After the game some of John’s teammates said to me: “You should have heard the trash talk John has to take during the game.”

The coaches and I were stunned. When we left the soccer fields, John dissolved into tears. His core had been totally rocked. He kept saying, “I hate being black, don’t they know I’m just like them? Why do they say such things? Maybe I shouldn’t play soccer.” The coaches felt it was a big enough issue that the incident needed to be reported to the proper persons within Spokane Youth Sports.

Yours very truly,

Carolyn (John’s mother)

The soccer association held a disciplinary committee hearing Oct. 29 in which they heard testimony from John and his teammates, the coaches and the man identified by others as saying the ethnic slur, his wife and child. The man accused denied saying anything, and others testified they couldn’t be sure he was the person.

Oct. 30, 1998 To: Carolyn and John

Attached please find a copy of the findings of the hearing committee after their deliberations.

Sincerely, Harv Clark, soccer coordinator and Ken Mathia, sports program manager

Findings: That (the man accused) did not do as the letter alleges and hereby dismisses this complaint and concludes Spokane Youth Sports Association’s action in this matter.

Nov. 1, 1998 Dear Harv,

Last week our son and three other members of his soccer team testified at a hearing regarding racial remarks directed at one of their teammates. The person accused of shouting these insults was cleared of the charges. We expect that Spokane Youth Sports will continue to investigate the incident. We do not want to be associated with an organization that will allow this kind of conduct from parents, spectators, coaches, players or officials. A conclusion that shows you will not tolerate insulting, immoral behavior will go a long way toward teaching all of us that bigotry is wrong, particularly when it is directed to a child. Sincerely, Michael P. and Christine Huss

Nov. 9, 1998 To the board of Spokane Youth Sports,

I am writing to you out of concern over the handling of a racial incident directed at my son John. You should know that I am not protesting the decision of the three judges in finding the accused parent not guilty. Rather I am expressing my disappointment that the panel did nothing to support John or the other boys when they appeared before that board.

They gave no word of understanding of what the boys had gone through. They did nothing to help them to a sense of justice — that these boys had done the right thing to protest the abusive language, that they had acted bravely in appearing in a formal setting and especially that, whether the accused parent was found guilty of this act, any such denigration and “trash talking” is never to be deemed acceptable at a Spokane Youth Sports event.

I know I can’t make the world any safer for John, but I do hope that schools and sports teams will have made all those who participate aware that racist and demeaning language is no more acceptable than fights on the field. Respectfully, Leonard (John’s father)

Nov. 9, 1998 Dear members of the board:

I am deeply saddened by your decision. I think you should have found him guilty or, at least, if you do not find him guilty then you should have asked yourself who else might have said this because five kids heard these remarks, so it must have happened. I would just like you to know you have crushed an 11-year-old boy. Respectfully yours, John

Dec. 11, 1998 John,

Thank you for your letter. It took a great deal of courage to come forward and follow through with the hearing. For that you should be proud of yourself and we are proud of you!

I know you are not happy with the judicial committee’s final decision. It seems quite apparent that the comments were in fact made; however, determining whether the comments were made was not the issue before the committee. That issue was whether (the person accused) was the person making the comments. The decision does not mean that the comments you heard were not said, but instead there was not enough proof that the statements were actually made by (the person accused.)

I cannot tell you how badly we feel that someone made these comments. Spokane Youth Sports never has and never will tolerate the things you had to experience. We work hard to promote racial equality and will now do even more since your experience.

Your parents also expressed to us that you may not return to play soccer next spring. I hope you reconsider. For the sake of your body, you cannot find a better sport to build a strong and healthy body. For your spirit, you have a lot of teammates and other people that care about you and admire the courage you have shown through this. If you choose not to play with Spokane Youth Sports, that is fine. Play somewhere else; just don’t quit! Sincerely, Ken Mathia, sports program manager

December 1998 Dear teammates who came forward:

Thank you for your courageous and compassionate support of John and your willingness to testify at the Spokane Youth Sports hearing. You lessened the deep pain John experienced just by being there. Despite the difficult process, my hope is you all know that you stood by your convictions and were willing to stand up for what you believed in, even in adversarial situations.

We don’t plan to let this issue be forgotten. We’ll be working for safe and positive experiences for everyone on the playing fields of Spokane. You are truly wonderful young guys who have taken a huge step in confronting bigotry in Spokane. You are real heroes. Sincerely, Carolyn (John’s mother)