A south Minneapolis boys basketball coach is wondering why a big group of fans – mostly white and mostly wearing red, white, and blue clothing attire – greeted his players with a giant “TRUMP 2020: KEEP AMERICA GREAT!” sign during their matchup Tuesday night.
Minneapolis Roosevelt High School coach Michael Walker posted a photo of the fans holding the sign on Facebook.
“I coach a predominantly black inner-city high school team,” he wrote. “We go out to a rural area in Jordan, MN and this is there. Please explain how and why this is appropriate at a high school basketball game?”
He included hashtags such as #criticalquestioning, #blackexcellence, #blackandproud and #representationmatters.
I coach a predominantly black inner city high school team. We go out to a rural area in Jordan, MN and this is there….
Posted by Michael Zeke Walker on Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Walker is also head of Minneapolis Public Schools’ Office of Black Male Student Achievement.
School District Superintendent Matt Helgerson released a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“The Jordan School District is aware of concerns that have been raised about the events that occurred at the Boys Basketball game on January 15, 2019, where our team hosted the Minneapolis Roosevelt High School team. We regret that Roosevelt players and their coaching staff, fans and community were made to feel uncomfortable as it is always our intent to graciously host our opponents,” the statement said.
Jordan ended up beating Minneapolis Roosevelt 67 to 58.
