WEATHERFORD, Texas — A parent's cell phone video captures the moment a North Texas high school baseball player became the target of racial slurs while at home plate.
Several parents are now demanding accountability after more than one student yelled the N-word during the game.
It all played out during the April 19 Weatherford High School boys' baseball game against the Trinity Trojans from the HEB Independent School District. As one of the Trinity baseball players batted at home plate, students from Weatherford ISD blurted out a racial slur leaving some parents in disbelief.
Chauncey Clark's son was the one at bat when the racial slurs started. His wife just happened to be recording. Other parents came up to him during the game to inform him about the incident.
"It all started Tuesday night during their first game of a two-game season. While shaking hands with a Weatherford High School baseball opponent, the player said to him good game boy," said Clark.
Clark had a conversation with his son about Tuesday's handshaking comments. As a father, he reluctantly convinced his son to give the other baseball player the benefit of the doubt and that he didn't mean anything demeaning.
But after the Friday incident, he has a change of heart.
"My son heard them saying the N-word while up to bat and turned around," said Clark.
Clark's son is a sophomore playing on the Varsity team because of his skills. Clark said he has not heard anything from the coaches, school administrators, or the athletic director about the incident. But he has had heart-to-heart conversations with his son about racism.
Everett Dunkley is another Trinity parent and heard everything while he was in the stands Friday.
"The N-word, they said it's multiple times over and over and over again. We have it on video," Dunkley said.
He and other parents said they expected Weatherford coaches to do something. Dunkley said he had no doubt they also heard the racial slurs being hurled at the baseball player.
"It was very loud. We all heard it. We look over and they're just standing there, just calm. Which led us to believe that it's an everyday thing," said Dunkley, "But we heard it, it was multiple times before anyone even addressed it."
Weatherford School officials sent WFAA the following statement.
"Upon learning of this incident, Weatherford High School administrators worked diligently to investigate the situation. Discipline has been administered according to the Weatherford ISD Student Code of Conduct."
Weatherford ISD would not disclose how many students were disciplined or the punishment. A spokesperson shared that due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the district cannot speak to the specific discipline administered. FERPA was also used when WFAA inquired about how many students were disciplined for using racial slurs at the baseball game.
When WFAA reached out to HED ISD, school officials responded by saying that the district would not be making a statement concerning this incident nor would the district be taking any action.
Dunkley describes his district as embracing diversity. He said this incident involving racial slurs is about Weatherford ISD.
"Weatherford High School should send a letter of apology to the entire baseball team," said Dunkley.