CNN
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Members of Utah women’s basketball team were “deeply disturbed and shaken” by what team officials called “hateful and disturbing” racial abuse before their NCAA Tournament opening match.
The team has filed a police report and is now releasing more details about what happened Thursday in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, before a game against South Dakota State in Spokane, Idaho. Washington State, about 30 miles away.
According to a statement from Utah athletic director Mark Harlan, assistant AD Charmelle Green and women’s basketball coach Lynne Roberts, the team was on its way to dinner when a vehicle drove past and “yelled racial epithets at the group”.
Later, as the team was returning from dinner, a vehicle drove slowly past the group, “revving its engine,” while the occupants again shouted “racist slurs and threats,” according to the statement.
He added: “As one can imagine, many students, staff and other members of the traveling party were left deeply disturbed and fearful after the incidents, in what should be a safe and enjoyable experience. »
In an interview with CNN affiliate KSLGreen said the N-word was shouted at the team on both occasions.
Police opened an investigation.
“At the time of writing the report, we were unable to speak to any of the potential victims of the incident, nor were we able to locate the individuals who shouted racial slurs,” said Coeur d’Alene Police Chief, Lee White, during a press conference. Tuesday.
“The Coeur d’Alene Police Department has an open case in this matter and detectives are attempting to speak with all victims in this incident. But for now, we don’t know exactly who it is. It was initially reported that around 100 people were in the vicinity of the incident when it occurred.
“We are working cooperatively with our partners at the FBI because there are federal laws that can be charged appropriately based on what actually happened.”
A police spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday that they were working with the University of Utah to conduct interviews.
Young Kwak/AP
Lynne Roberts watches the first half of the game between Gonzaga and Utah.
Deputy AD Green said she struggled to understand the abuse the team was subjected to.
“I will never forget the sound that I heard, the intimidation of the noise coming from that engine and the (N-)word,” Green told KSL.
“I go to bed and hear it every night since I’ve been here…I couldn’t imagine we had to sit there and relive those moments.”
The team eventually moved to a hotel in Spokane, which hosted the first and second round games of the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments.
Utah was staying in Coeur d’Alene due to limited hotel space in Spokane. The team was offered a police escort to ensure the journey to the McCarthey Athletic Center did not exceed 30 minutes.
The Utes beat South Dakota State on Saturday before losing 77-66 to host Gonzaga in the second round of the tournament on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Kootenai County Human Relations Task Force said a Confederate flag was displayed in the vehicle that initially passed the team.
“I want to make it very clear and loud that we condemn in the strongest possible terms these horrific acts of hatred, and if the perpetrators can be found, we call for them to be brought to justice,” said Tony Stewart, the group’s director. of work. , said Tuesday during a press conference.
“There is no place in our communities or in the United States of America for such horrific acts. »
Stewart also said a perpetrator had been involved in both cases of alleged abuse, but was “enhanced by others” on the second occasion.
In a statement released Tuesday, the NCAA said it was aware of the instances of racist abuse and “immediately worked with Gonzaga and Utah to provide increased security for the team” before the new accommodation is not organized.
“The NCAA condemns racism and hatred in all its forms and is committed to providing student-athletes with a world-class athletic and academic experience that promotes lifelong well-being,” the statement said.
However, Harlan, Green and Roberts said in their statement that they were “very disappointed” to have been accommodated so far from the venue.
Gonzaga said that he was aware of “racist comments” towards visiting players, adding: “Hate speech, in any form, is disgusting, shameful and must never be tolerated.
“We have worked hard to secure the opportunity to serve as the host institution, and our first priority is and must be the safety and well-being of all student-athletes, coaches, families and support staff.”
The UC Irvine women’s basketball team was also staying in Coeur d’Alene but was not subject to any racist abuse during their time there, the UCI confirmed to CNN in a statement . Once the incident with the Utah team occurred, the NCAA contacted the UCI and their team moved to a hotel in Spokane for the “well-being and safety” of their group.
