Earlier this week, the St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale district high schools announced their decisions to discontinue future athletic competitions with New Prague high school. This decision came in response to a series of events where student athletes of both schools were subject to racist remarks from students and adults of the New Prague high school community. In response, Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) released the following statement.
“I am deeply disturbed to hear the news of the abhorrent, obscene, and racist remarks made against students of both St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale district high schools. Racism and hate speech of any kind have no place in our school systems and communities. I stand with the leadership of both high schools and commend their actions to protect their students of color from further exposure to the hatred they experienced.
These bold responses of cutting ties, discontinuing association, and condemning the actions or inactions of institutions set a standard of respect, regard, and honor for our students and communities of color. I believe the actions of the St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale high schools will serve as a catalyst for bold leadership in the face of injustice and I encourage other schools and the Minnesota State High School League to follow their example.”