Lowell High School, a prominent San Francisco public school, has dismissed its entire varsity baseball coaching staff and will forfeit three games due to a racially charged incident that occurred during a game last spring. School officials announced the disciplinary actions Monday following an investigation into alleged racial taunts directed at opposing players.
The incident reportedly took place during a mid-May game against rival Lincoln High School, near the end of the season. According to social media accounts from individuals claiming to be present, Lowell High players in the bleachers made racist noises and comments targeting Black and Latino players on the field. Allegations include monkey noises directed at a Black player and chants of "Build a wall!" aimed at a Latino player, referencing stereotypes.
A video posted to YouTube from the game includes a background voice shouting "build a wall" during the eighth inning, lending some credence to the online accounts.
The California Interscholastic Federation's San Francisco section also investigated the matter and mandated the three game forfeits, along with a required sportsmanship course. The school district stated that there is no place for racism or discrimination within its community.
Prior to the dismissal of the coaching staff, the team's three coaches had been suspended. Varsity head coach Michael Sera, who also serves as a physical education instructor, was placed on leave from his teaching duties. Sera, in his first year as head coach, has declined to comment on the situation.
Lowell High School plans to appoint an interim coach and begin a search for a new head coach before the next season. The district has emphasized that all perceived harms are being addressed and that students are learning from the incident. District officials confirmed that Lowell administration engaged with affected students and families, as well as the Lincoln team, to address the harm caused.
Lowell varsity players participated in a relearning of the official code of conduct, discussing the importance of intervening in cases of bullying and harassment. Individual players have reportedly taken accountability for their actions. The school district has not disclosed whether any players faced individual punishments, citing student privacy laws, but has promised accountability.