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Five Lincoln-Way East students were identified after a video appeared to show them directing racist gestures and sounds toward Homewood-Flossmoor students during a varsity football game.
THE WORD
- The incident occurred during the September 4 varsity football game between Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way East.
- Witnesses said five Lincoln-Way East students made monkey sounds and gestures toward H-F students.
- School staff reportedly intervened immediately and removed the five students from the property.
- Lincoln-Way East officials apologized and said the students would be handled through the district’s disciplinary process.
- Homewood-Flossmoor officials are working with Lincoln-Way East administrators and local authorities while considering possible legal options.
- The IHSA condemned the students’ actions and said it would work with both schools toward an appropriate resolution.
A high school football game in Chicago’s south suburbs has sparked outrage after video circulated online appearing to show five Lincoln-Way East High School students racially harassing students from Homewood-Flossmoor High School.
According to CBS News Chicago, the incident occurred near the end of the third quarter of the varsity football game in Flossmoor on Friday, September 4. Witnesses told the outlet that the students went onto the field and made monkey noises and gestures toward H-F students seated in the bleachers.
Parent Vicky Carter told ABC7 Chicago that the students were making monkey sounds, flapping their arms and crawling like monkeys. Carter said witnessing the behavior was disturbing for her children.
Homewood-Flossmoor alum Destiny Watson noted that H-F’s student population is majority Black and said students should not have to experience gestures connected to the racist treatment and dehumanization Black people have endured throughout history.
Staff members reportedly acted immediately, removed the five students from the property and helped the Homewood-Flossmoor students remain safely in the bleachers.
If the video does not appear, watch the footage on Facebook.
Schools Respond as Community Demands Accountability
Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 said it would not tolerate racism or disrespect directed toward members of its community. According to CBS News Chicago, district leadership and the Board of Education are working with Lincoln-Way East leadership and local authorities while considering options—including possible legal options—to prevent similar incidents.
“We will not allow this ignorance to distract us from our commitment to excellence and our long history of inclusion and racial respect.”
Lincoln-Way East administrators confirmed that the students shown in the video were not members of the school’s football team. The district apologized to the H-F community and said the conduct did not reflect the expectations and standards it has for Lincoln-Way students.
Administrators also confirmed that the students had been identified and said the district would follow its disciplinary policies and procedures “to the fullest extent.” Because the incident involved students, Lincoln-Way East said it could not disclose their names or the disciplinary action that would be taken.
IHSA Condemns the Students’ Actions
The Illinois High School Association also condemned the incident. In a statement published by ABC7 Chicago, IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson described the conduct as racist and said every high school student-athlete in Illinois deserves to compete in a safe and respectful environment.
Anderson said Lincoln-Way East administrators recognized the seriousness of the situation and were acting accordingly. The IHSA plans to work with both schools to help reach an appropriate resolution.
H-F Community Refuses to Be Intimidated
The incident happened during Homewood-Flossmoor’s homecoming weekend. Members of the Class of 2016 were celebrating their 10-year reunion, and some alumni attended Friday night’s game.
While students and residents have called for accountability, members of the H-F community emphasized that the incident would not overshadow the pride, support and unity surrounding the school.
The viral footage has pushed the conversation beyond what happened inside the stadium. Families are now asking what accountability will look like, how schools will protect students from racial harassment and what steps will be taken to prevent similar conduct in the future.
The five students may have been removed from the game, but the Homewood-Flossmoor community is making it clear that removing them from the stadium cannot be the end of the response.
