Oregon School Officials Silent on Football Player's Tackle of Flag-Bearing Opponent
Jefferson High School has not responded to inquiries about the incident, while the state athletic association confirmed the player was ejected.
Portland, Oregon school officials have remained silent following an incident last Friday night where a Jefferson High School football player tackled an opponent who was carrying an American flag onto the field. Attempts by OutKick to reach Jefferson High School's athletic director and principal for comment on Monday were unsuccessful, and messages left for the principal's office were not returned.
The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the state's governing body for school athletics, stated that it is aware of the pre-game incident. The OSAA confirmed that the Jefferson player was ejected from the game and did not participate further. "Rivalry game or not, there’s no place for this behavior before, during, or after an interscholastic contest," the OSAA said in a statement.
The incident raises questions about whether the Grant High School player was targeted for carrying the American flag onto the field before the game against Jefferson. The Jefferson football team's Instagram account, which had previously posted a statement regarding the event, has since been deleted. Screenshots of the deleted post, saved by Oregon-based campaign manager Taren Feist, offered some context from the school's perspective.
According to the now-deleted statement, the video was "not intended to disrespect the American flag." It also claimed that "disrespect shown toward Jefferson by Grant players and members of their coaching staff before the game" occurred and that witnesses would understand the "full context." The statement suggested that Grant players "chose not to" go around the field, despite having the option. It emphasized the significance of the night as the last game on Jefferson Field, Senior Night, and Homecoming for the school and its community.
The statement from the Jefferson account also asserted, "you will not use this situation as an excuse to be racist toward my students, my players, our staff, or anyone who represents Jefferson. They do not deserve to be targeted or disrespected because of a rivalry or a video posted online." It concluded by stating pride in Jefferson's diverse community, comprised of students from "Black, Hispanic, white, and many different backgrounds who come together as one school and one community."
In the game itself, Grant defeated Jefferson with a score of 35-14. Jefferson's record fell to 1-6, while Grant's improved to 6-1.