Two Bay Area baseball coaches have been suspended amid an investigation that players on their team hurled racist taunts at Asian American players on an opposing team, according to a report.
The Pinole Valley High School coaches, including the head coach, were placed on administrative leave until an investigation into the April 23 game against Albany High School concludes, the West Contra Costa Unified School District confirmed to SFGate on Thursday.
“This is the typical process that is followed for external investigations involving personnel,” district spokesperson Raechelle Forrest said in an email. “... WCCUSD does not tolerate racism or harassment of any kind, and we are committed to identifying those responsible and taking appropriate action in alignment with district policy.”
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The school is under investigation following accusations that players on its varsity baseball team unleashed taunts that included references such as "Baljeet," an Indian character from an animated TV show, and "PF Chang," a well-known Asian restaurant chain. Other taunts reportedly slung included, "He can't see through those eyes," and players barking as an Asian American pitcher was on the mound.
“When my son came in, there was a voice who said, ‘P.F. Chang, is that you?’” Eugene Lee previously told SFGate. “My son said he heard them say, ‘He can’t see through those eyes.’”
Lee also recorded some of the taunts on video and filed a formal complaint.
Parents of Bishop O’Dowd High School players also said they saw racist behavior from Pinole Valley High School, including parent Jake Rivas, who flatly declared to the outlet, "Their racism is rampant."
“This is not an isolated incident,” Heidi Makeig, a parent of a junior varsity player, told the outlet in an email. “If there is a climate where something like that becomes a pattern that is absolutely unacceptable. I would also like to see the students held accountable for their actions.”