Idaho officials apologize to Utah women’s basketball team after ‘racial hate crimes,’ U of U responds
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (ABC4) — City officials in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, apologized to the Utah Women’s Basketball Team on Tuesday for the racist incidents that happened while the team was staying in the city for the NCAA tournament.
“To the young women who endured racial slurs while visiting, I offer my most sincere apology,” said Coeur D’Alene Mayor Jim Hammond at a Tuesday morning press conference.
He continued: “We, all of us, stand with you, we embrace you, we celebrate your accomplishments and strongly denounce any malicious treatment toward you.”
The University of Utah released a statement in response, expressing gratitude for the apology and recounting the distress the incidents caused students and staff.
The incidents
According to Coeur D’Alene officials, the racist abuse happened on Thursday night, when the Utah players and another team were going out for dinner. While the players were walking to the restaurant, someone drove by in a truck displaying a Confederate flag and started yelling racial slurs at the players, including the N-word.
After the players finished their meal, the same truck returned — this time with others — and this group started shouting racist abuse at the players and revved their engines, which city officials took to be a “serious threat.”
Coeur D’Alene Police Chief Lee White said his department is investigating the incidents alongside the FBI, as federal statutes might have been violated. Investigators are working to speak with victims and witnesses and find video of the incidents. So far, none of the perpetrators have been identified.
PREVIOUS STORY: Utes basketball team exposed to ‘racial hate crimes’
The racist abuse was brought to the attention of the media on Monday night, after Utah head coach Lynne Roberts spoke to reporters about the “racial hate crimes” her team was exposed to while staying in Coeur d’Alene, which is about 30 miles from their games in Spokane, Washington.
“It was a distraction, and upsetting and unfortunate,” Roberts said. “This should be a positive for everybody involved. It should be a joyous time for our program. And to have kind of a black eye on that experience is unfortunate.”
The Utah team switched hotels the day after the racist incidents. According to Roberts, Gonzaga, the host school, and the NCAA helped the team find new accommodations.
Gonzaga, NCAA and local officials respond
Gonzaga released a statement Monday saying that hate speech must never be tolerated and that student-athlete and staff safety is their first priority.
“We are frustrated and deeply saddened to know that what should always be an amazing visitor and championship experience was in any way compromised by this situation, for it in no way reflects the values, standards, and beliefs to which we at Gonzaga University hold ourselves accountable,” the statement said.
The NCAA also released a statement condemning racism and “hatred in any form,” saying, in part, “We are devasted about the Utah team’s experience while traveling to compete on what should have been a weekend competing on the brightest stage and creating some of the fondest memories of their lives.”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little called the incident “unacceptable” and “disgusting.”
“We condemn bullies who seek to harass and silence others,” he said. “I will continue the tradition of past Idaho governors in supporting our local leaders in their efforts to eradicate hate and bigotry from our communities.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox thanked Little on X/Twitter for his response to what he described as “cowardly acts. “
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said that Utah’s capital city supports the Utah Women’s Basketball Team and applauded Roberts for having the courage to speak about the racism her team experienced.
“Across history, women have been driving forces for change. Today is no different and this team is made up of incredible athletes who embody this,” Mendenhall said. “Their courage in telling their story advances the work in our nation to eliminate racism.”
The University of Utah releases a statement
The University of Utah released a statement saying the team, staff and administration are “deeply troubled and shaken by the hateful and disturbing actions and vitriol directed toward them in Coeur d’Alene.”
“As can be imagined, many students, staff and other members of the traveling party were deeply disturbed and fearful after the incidents, in what should be a safe and enjoyable experience,” the statement read. “Now, several days later, we are continuing to provide support and resources to all of those impacted by the events in Idaho last Thursday.”
The university said it was disappointed the team was assigned to a hotel so far away from the games, as they were placed 30 miles away in a different state, and called it “a contributing factor to the impact of this incident.”
The statement said university officials plan to “work with NCAA leadership to make it clear that being so far removed from the site was unacceptable.”
The university thanked Gonzaga University for their “care and concern” and local officials for their support.
Read the full statement below:
“The University of Utah and members of our women’s basketball team, band and spirit teams, staff, administrators and supporters, continue to be deeply troubled and shaken by the hateful and disturbing actions and vitriol directed toward them in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, last Thursday evening. The incidents occurred shortly after the traveling party arrived in the area to participate in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament’s First and Second Rounds hosted by Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
There were two separate disturbing encounters. First, as the travelling party was walking to a restaurant for dinner in the vicinity of their hotel, a vehicle drove by and occupants shouted racial epithets at the group. Second, on the walk back to the hotel, a vehicle slowly passed the group, revving its engine with its occupants again shouting racially disparaging words and threats. A police report was filed later Thursday evening with the City of Coeur d’Alene Police Department, and we will continue to work with the authorities in their investigation.
As can be imagined, many students, staff and other members of the traveling party were deeply disturbed and fearful after the incidents, in what should be a safe and enjoyable experience. Out of concern for their well-being and safety, we worked with Gonzaga and the NCAA to move to alternate accommodations in Spokane.
Now, several days later, we are continuing to provide support and resources to all of those impacted by the events in Idaho last Thursday.
As we continue to heal, we remain very disappointed in the decision to assign our team to hotels such a great distance from the competition site, in another state. We will work with NCAA leadership to make it clear that being so far removed from the site was unacceptable and a contributing factor to the impact of this incident.
We do want to express our gratitude for the care and concern demonstrated to us by Gonzaga University, and for the comments today from Coeur d’Alene Mayor Jim Hammond and other local officials. We take their regret sincerely and appreciate both their strong condemnation and denouncement of the abhorrent conduct as well as their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice.
Our focus will remain on the well-being of our students and staff.”
University of Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan, Deputy A.D. Charmelle Green and Women’s Basketball Head Coach Lynne Roberts
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