Evanston Marching Band Faces Racism and Homophobia Allegations

The Wildkits marching band captivated a cheering crowd at Evanston Township High School’s auditorium on Monday evening. Their uniforms showcased a vibrant blend of orange and blue during the annual Band Day event. This event highlighted the high school’s marching band’s top performances, including those by the wind symphony, jazz ensemble, and Evanston/Skokie School District 65’s eighth-grade band.

Many attendees considered the concert a welcomed distraction. Only three days earlier, the marching band and color guard had allegedly faced racist and homophobic slurs during a football game against New Trier High School at the newly opened $875 million Ryan Field in Evanston. Parents recalled that the game, held in the modern stadium, should have celebrated camaraderie and diversity, but for some, it became a deeply unsettling experience.

Paula Lieberman, the parent of a color guard captain, shared that her daughter and fellow band members were harassed by New Trier fans in the general admission section during the pregame performance. She recounted fans chanting harmful statements and using racial slurs. “It’s consumed me since my daughter came home Friday night,” Lieberman stated. “The team was really shook up.”

Isaac Rochon, a sophomore saxophone player, also reported hearing slurs from New Trier’s student section. “Nobody from the band yelled back because we had to focus on the pregame,” Rochon said. He remembered being directly targeted with hateful comments while witnessing a friend being spat on by a New Trier student. “We are continuing to fight and spread the word as to what happened,” Rochon emphasized.

Jenima Lyon, whose child is a senior in the band, noted her daughter’s discomfort with the lack of support for the band and the absence of consequences. She mentioned that the performers, unable to carry phones, couldn’t record the harassment. “It was a huge deal for them to perform, and they took it seriously,” Lyon said. “It’s just a shame it was ruined by ignorant actions.”

Superintendents Marcus Campbell of Evanston Township and Peter Tragos of New Trier issued a joint statement on Sunday. They acknowledged awareness of the reported incidents during the October 16 game and committed to investigating these reports. “Our administrations are working closely to determine appropriate next steps,” the statement read, encouraging anyone with firsthand information to come forward.

Niki Dizon, New Trier’s chief communications officer, informed the Pioneer Press that the message was emailed to all students, parents, and staff, and posted on the school’s homepage. “Our investigation is continuing,” Dizon said. “We take these allegations very seriously and do not tolerate racism, homophobia, or other forms of discrimination at our events.” She noted that New Trier aims to collaborate with staff and groups such as the student Belonging Council to uphold school values.

Jamie Deutch Noll, an ETHS alum and parent, attended the Band Day showcase and shared that the incident felt like a continuation of past behaviors she witnessed as a student. “I encountered those kinds of comments 25 years ago,” Noll said. She remarked that the community’s cultural diversity is a strength, and the event should have been a celebration for both teams.

Raechel Alexander, another parent, expressed her outrage at the situation. “It’s abhorrent,” Alexander said. “How do they think this is okay?” She emphasized her responsibility to teach her daughter, who is white, to stand up for those targeted by hate speech. “Especially those of us who are not the targets of the hate speech.”