Video shows NJ high school taunting black player with racist chant

JEFFERSON — A video obtained by a news organization shows fans of this township's predominantly white high school taunting a visiting team's black basketball player with racist chants.

The state organization that regulates high school athletics is already investigating the incident last Friday at Jefferson High School after the Dover school district's superintendent complained about the "discriminatory and hateful" taunts.

In the video obtained by NJ.com, fans can be heard shouting "ashy knees" every time a black player on the Dover team took a free throw.

The visiting Dover team also was taunted with chants of “build the wall” and other slurs, according to Dover schools Superintendent Robert Becker.

Dover High School's student body is mostly Hispanic.

"I personally feel a sense of anger and frustration that our students were subjected to speech which was discriminatory and hateful in nature. This cannot be tolerated and will not stand," Becker said in a statement this week.

Dover parents also said the home team turned their backs on the Dover players and many wore American-flag apparel and Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" caps, which they felt was meant to intimidate the minority visitors.

Jefferson schools Superintendent Patrick Tierney acknowledged the incident and apologized for an “unfortunate situation.”

The NJSIAA, meanwhile, forwarded reports submitted by both districts on their investigations into the incident to the state Division on Civil Rights.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-438-1015 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.