Ledyard, Colchester Officials Disagree On Racist Incident

LEDYARD, CT — An investigation by Ledyard schools has concluded that an "adult spectator from Bacon Academy referred to our players using a racially inflammatory word" at a high school girls' basketball game Saturday night, according to a district post on Facebook.

However, Colchester officials said this week that after an investigation, they believe no racist comments were made by fans, WFSB 3-TV reported. First Selectman Anreas Bisbikos said in a Facebook post that "Every minute of the game was mined to find a racist incident, and nothing was found. No evidence was provided to the Colchester Police Department."

Bisbikos said the Bacon Academy girls' basketball team has "suffered at the hands of bullying and harassment online" since the incident.

"Racism has no place in our or any community," Bisbikos wrote. "However, making a declaration without all the facts has caused our community irreparable damage."

A police investigation into the incident is ongoing but no charges have been filed at this time.

See related: Bacon Academy Fans Hurled Racist Slurs At Ledyard Girl Athletes

Below is a statement on the investigation Ledyard Public Schools Superintendent Jason Hartling, which appeared in a Facebook post:

Ledyard Public Schools concluded our investigation of the incidents at the girls’ basketball game Saturday, February 5. We have shared our findings in multiple conversations with Bacon Academy.

1. A parent was removed from the facility for entering the court and approaching the officials as they exited to the locker room. That individual failed to leave the facility in a timely manner. (This was not reported as a racially motivated issue).

2. Due to the behavior of the spectators, the Ledyard Police were called to assist with a safe, orderly exit from the premises.

Additional adults created commotion and behaved in a manner not aligned with the expectations for spectators at our school.

3. At the conclusion of the game, while our team was leaving the court, an adult spectator from Bacon Academy referred to our players using a racially inflammatory term, “N*****s.” This statement was heard by a member of our team and was immediately reported. Multiple interviews were conducted, and we have no reason to call into question what our student experienced.

In addition to the above, a video clip from The GameDay broadcast was shared with both Ledyard and Bacon Academy administrations. This clip was reported to contain a racial slur. While something is clearly shouted, we cannot confirm, even after repeated viewing, what was said, and therefore did not pursue this further. This clip was never the center of the original complaint.

The above is the summary we have provided on the incidents of Saturday, February 5. Our investigation did not implicate the coaches or players for racially charged behaviors in this game. We have assisted Bacon Academy in addressing unacceptable social media postings, and will continue to do so.

Interviews conducted after this incident included statements from parents and students who have had negative experiences in the past. These additional complaints were not part of our original investigation.

On Monday, February 7, I met with the team and apologized that this incident happened to them. I thanked them for the manner in which they conducted themselves and let them know their community stands by them. These are trying times in education and athletics. We embrace the opportunity to learn from these experiences to shape a more positive world for all of our students and families. Ledyard High School stands with our partners in the ECC against the use of racist and discriminatory language and behavior. If we have any hope of eliminating such derogatory terms and behavior in our society, we must begin in our homes and our schools.

J. Hartling,
Superintendent of Schools

Below is a statement from Colchester First Selectman Andreas Bibikos that appeared on Facebook:

Dear Colchester Residents,

Our community has made national and international news because of an alleged racial incident that occurred at the Bacon-Ledyard basketball game on Saturday, February 5th. Our Superintendent released a statement on Tuesday, February 8th stating that “we believe this behavior did take place and included racial taunts by some adults aimed at opposing youth players”. When I spoke to our Superintendent in front of our Resident Sergeant Trooper, he claimed that the evidence gathered from the Ledyard Superintendent was sufficient. I issued a public statement to condemn any acts of racism that may have occurred, and I trusted the Superintendent had sufficient basis to make his pronouncement.

Since the alleged incident has spread, our Bacon Academy girls basketball team have suffered at the hands of bullying and harassment online. Colchester parents have seen their reputations damaged. Our public school system has become disparaged nationwide, and some have even labeled our town as racist. Many lives have been negatively affected.

Yet something did not add up. As I spoke to parents who were at the game, they denied knowledge of any racial incident occurring. Every minute of the game was mined to find a racist incident, and nothing was found. No evidence was provided to the Colchester Police Department. In a follow up conversation on Thursday, February 10, with the Superintendent, he admitted to me that no evidence existed, and he made his initial statement based on the word of the Ledyard Superintendent. I was extremely disappointed that our Superintendent jumped to a conclusion before a serious investigative process was conducted.

I have spoken to the Ledyard Chief of Police, and he has confirmed that an investigation is currently being conducted. I look forward to the findings. I also expect the Ledyard Superintendent to provide evidence of the alleged racial claims that he has no problem speaking to the media about. If he cannot produce that evidence, he should resign effective immediately.

Racism has no place in our or any community. However, making a declaration without all the facts has caused our community irreparable damage. If in fact it is determined that there is no evidence, one must wonder what the underlying motivations could have been.

Sincerely,

Andreas Bisbikos
First Selectman