Use of racial slur benches entire team

KENMORE, N.Y. (WIVB) - The use of the "N" word during a pre-game warmup has drawn suspensions for an entire high school sports team in the Ken-Ton District.

15-year-old Kenmore East student Tyra Batts is taking a big stand, blowing the whistle about the pre-grame chant that used a racial slur.

"It was uncomfortable because I had to hold hands with everybody," said Batts.

The girl's basketball player couldn't believe it when she first heard the chant done in private, with only her teammates present.

Batts said the team would "huddle up in a circle and go one, two, three...and say [N-word]."

Now, about a dozen of her teammates on the girl's varsity basketball squad have been suspended for using the racial slur.

Ken-Ton Schools Superintendent Mark Mondanaro said, "It was very, very disappointing to us to hear it as a school district. We take pride in our student diversity."

District officials immediately launched an investigation after learning of the pre-game psych-up. You can see the results of their investigation here. Batts later got into a fight with a teammate who made racial remarks during a practice. Both girls were suspended.

"It makes me feel sick to my stomach, and weird and awkward that I was in the locker room with them while they said it, and they didn't think nothing of it, that I'm the only black one on the team," Batts told News 4.

At this point, team practices have been suspended for the rest of the week and Saturday's scheduled game against Olean has been postponed.

Batts's parents, Ray and Michelle, tell News 4 that they're proud of the stand their daughter has taken, and are okay with her going back to play basketball with the team.

"I think she'll send a bigger message by going back, and putting that uniform back on," said Ray.

Michelle added, "I think she should still play for the team because she did make a stand, and I wouldn't want to see her not do something that she loves to do."

"The N-word is not just a common word used. It's our race and it's our culture, and you shouldn't be walking around saying it," concluded Batts.

According to the Ken-Ton School District, the students who engaged in the racial chant will receive a two-day, out-of-school suspension and serve a one-game suspension by the end of the season. You can see the district's full response here.