Police in a Massachusetts community said there will not be charges for spectators who reportedly yelled racial slurs during a baseball game last week.
The incident happened Friday at Bullens Field in Westfield. Attendees at the game between Westfield High School Bombers and Chicopee Comp Colts were heard yelling apparent racial slurs at a player.
Westfield police said that none of the involved parties wanted to press charges, according to a Westfield News report.
Police responded to Bullens Field just after 5 p.m. Friday for a report of multiple spectators in the outfield yelling slurs towards an African-American Chicopee Comp outfielder. Some Chicopee players jumped over the center field fence to defend their teammate.
The spectators who allegedly shouted the slurs left in a vehicle. The game was postponed after players from both teams gathered on the outfield grass to show support for each other.
The postponed game picked up Saturday in the 5th inning without spectators and Westfield took the victory, 5-0.
Police later made contact with the spectators who reportedly shouted the slurs. He said the spectators, also African-American teenagers, told police that what they shouted to the Chicopee outfielder was “normal language” between Black youth.
“Incidents like these are incredibly sad,” Westfield athletic director Ryan Dunphy told Masslive.com on Friday after the incident. “The actions of this fan or fans caused immense feelings of anger. I feel for the player affected, and (the fans) are not representative of the Westfield High School Athletics program. No one should ever have to be subjected to this. We are treating this matter seriously and immediately ejected anyone who was using poor sportsmanship that is not aligned with MIAA guidelines. I commend the actions of the Chicopee Comp staff and team for protecting and consoling their teammate, as well as the Westfield coaching staff who was there in support of the player and team.”
