Eight high school football coaches have been suspended after allegedly forcing a 17-year-old player to violate his religious beliefs by consuming pork, The Canton Repository reported.
McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, reportedly suspended head coach Marcus Wattley and seven assistants after allegations that the coaching staff made the unnamed student eat pepperoni pizza after missing a team workout.
Attorney Ed Gilbert told reporters on Tuesday that the student was allegedly punished because he missed the voluntary workout and forced to sit in the middle of the gym while eating.
The attorney added that the student, who is of the Hebrew Israeli religious faith, informed the staff multiple times that consuming pork or foods with pork residue ran counter to his beliefs.
“It is just one of those situations that is just beyond comprehension in today’s society,” Gilbert said.
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Gilbert accused the coaches of knowingly violating the student’s first amendment rights, as the coaches would have known of his dietary constraints due to previous team meals.
The player’s father told reporters that his family has not consumed pork since 2013 and that he feels disrespected.
“Obviously, I feel like the culture is broke,” Walker said. “Something needs to change.”
Gilbert said the family would “like to work this out but they have chosen not to work it out,” after an initial meeting with the superintendent, according to the outlet.
“They have chosen to not speak to us so we have no choice to move forward in a court of law and that will be very soon.”
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The Canton Repository reported that Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeff Talbert was not aware of the press conference and declined to comment to the paper regarding the situation. But Talbert released a statement last week, saying that “the safety and well being of students” is a “top priority.”
“Upon being notified of an incident that occurred during a football training session last week, the administrative team acted swiftly to begin the investigation,” Talbert wrote.
"Let us be clear, the Canton City School District holds all staff to the highest professional and ethical standards," Talbert continued. "Anything short of these standards is unacceptable."
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Football coaches forced teenage player to eat pork against his religious beliefs, family says | TheHill - The Hill
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