Five students from Lincoln-Way East were ejected from a varsity football game against Homewood-Flossmoor on Friday. These students allegedly engaged in racist harassment and exhibited offensive behavior towards Homewood-Flossmoor fans in the bleachers.

In a joint statement, H-F District 233 Superintendent Jennifer Norrell and school principal Clinton Alexander expressed disapproval of the students’ actions. They emphasized that the staff acted promptly to remove the individuals and ensured the safety of other students.

The district is collaborating with Lincoln-Way East and local authorities to explore measures to prevent future incidents. These measures may include legal actions to protect against similar behaviors.

Lincoln-Way East released a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the incident. The district clarified that the involved students are not members of the football team and apologized to the Homewood-Flossmoor community. The behavior exhibited does not align with the standards expected of Lincoln-Way students.

The statement confirmed that the students have been identified, and disciplinary procedures will be enforced to address the situation.