Massachusetts students asked not to attend game after anti-Semitic taunts

[Ognir]

Catholic Memorial administrators call statements 'appalling'

BOSTON —Students from Braintree High School cheered on the Catholic Memorial boys team at TD Garden after Catholic Memorial asked students not to attend a semifinal basketball game days after several students taunted fans from a Boston-area high school with a large Jewish population by yelling, "You killed Jesus!"

Administrators at Catholic Memorial School in the city's West Roxbury neighborhood asked the students not to attend Monday night's semifinal game. They issued a statement calling the chants "appalling" and announcing a series of student assemblies about them.

Catholic Memorial students attending Friday's game against Newton North High School yelled the chant in response to taunts about the all-boys Catholic school not having any female students, chanting "sausage fest."

Newton North fans admitted that they started the crass chants.

"It was a few kids who really didn't follow the rules and that really takes away from the rest of the student body," said Antonio Tenagila, who is the senior class president at Braintree High School. "We felt like we had to fill in."

The Catholic Memorial basketball team lost 77-73 to Cambridge.

Catholic Memorial President Peter Folan apologized for what he called "abhorrent behavior."

Newton North Principal Mark Aronson sent a message to the school community saying he spoke with his students about the fan behavior at Friday's basketball game. "Regardless of intent, the impact of chants from our fans was hurtful. On behalf of our community, I have apologized to Catholic Memorial administrators for our fan behavior."

Parents of Catholic Memorial students were not happy with the decision, saying apologies and dialogue are critical, but banning all 700 Catholic Memorial students punishes the wrong people, including the basketball team.

Newton Public Schools Superintendent David Fleishman says he contacted the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL said Catholic Memorial's decision sends a message.

"They're also sending a message to everybody in Boston that what was said was wrong and that all of us need to keep our emotions in check," said Robert Trestan of the Anti-Defamation League.

Fleishman also said in a WickedLocal interview that administrators would also address chants of "sausage fest" that came from the Newton North cheering section.

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