Investigation underway after mother claims North Salem football players hurled racial slurs at her son

An Oregon high school is investigating allegations that North Salem High School football players hurled racial slurs at a Barlow High School player during a game on Friday. The incident reportedly occurred when Barlow High School was playing North Salem High School, according to the mother of the alleged victim, Valerie Dixon, who shared her concerns on social media.

Ms. Dixon claims that the game was halted, and the referees convened a meeting with head coaches, issuing warnings to the offending team. She also stated that a similar incident took place during a previous Barlow High School game against Hood River Valley, where racial slurs were allegedly used again.

In response to the allegations, the Salem-Keizer Public Schools district stated that they are conducting an investigation, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all students. The spokesperson for the district further mentioned that they are reinforcing expectations for their student athletes regarding appropriate behavior and language.

This incident has drawn attention from an Oregon state lawmaker, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, who has called for the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) to take more decisive action to prevent racial incidents during school sports. Ms. Bynum emphasized that a racial slur is not simply trash talk or a competitive rivalry, but rather a clear act of racism, and she has introduced a House bill that would mandate reporting and responding to harassment and hateful language during school sports and activities.