“Peters Township School District does not condone or permit discrimination,” she said. Peters Township district spokeswoman Shelly Belcher responded Monday in a statement. She was sincerely apologetic,” Harris said. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said he spoke to French on Sunday night. The two drum majors were made to remove the costumes and did not have them on for the halftime performance. “He was humble and apologetic,” Coursey said. The band director told Coursey he didn’t think it would be offensive, according to Coursey. “We’re in a very contentious place in this country,” Coursey said. He also offered to explain to the students why blackface is offensive to Black people - to explain why it is perceived as dehumanizing and mocking. “At the very least, it’s racially insensitive and poorly thought out.”Ĭoursey said he explained to Barney how the costumes could be perceived and why they were hurtful. “He expressed profusely there was no malicious intent,” Coursey said. Together they went to speak to the band director, Milt Barney. Coursey immediately sought out the Peters athletic director, who he said was equally upset. Woodland Hills Athletic Director Ron Coursey said as he arrived at his team’s sideline just after the start of the game, he was notified about the two costumes by coaches and cheerleaders. The incident is now being investigated by Peters Superintendent Jeannine French. Some perceived the suits as the modern-day equivalent of blackface. When the Peters Township marching band took the field Friday night for a pregame performance before a high school playoff football game against Woodland Hills, two drum majors marched at the front wearing a full-body black spandex suit.
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