FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla — Nassau County School District said Friday morning that it is aware of “deeply troubling allegations” involving student behavior during Thursday night’s girls volleyball game at Fernandina Beach High School vs. Andrew Jackson High School.
Soon after the game concluded a woman posted photos and an account of what she said occurred. The post, which has since gone viral, was made by Antoinette Beckton and a portion of it reads:
“As parents, we are demanding that Fernandina Beach High School administration, Nassau County School District, Andrew Jackson High School administration, and Duval County Public Schools investigate what occurred and take appropriate action.”
One of the photos in Beckton’s post shows a male wearing dark sunglasses holding a Black baby doll over his head with both hands.
“ ... Several Fernandina Beach students were holding up a Black baby doll while making racial slurs, chants, and gestures directed toward our players,” Beckton’s post states. “Then, when one of our Andrew Jackson players fell and was hurt on the court, Fernandina Beach High students could be heard yelling, ‘Oh, she’s dead!’ while holding the Black doll upside down, laughing and making jokes.”
Beckton said equally disturbing to the actions of the students was the response, or lack thereof, from the adults in attendance. “... Watching faculty, staff, and other adults sit by while this behavior was taking place without the immediate intervention that our girls deserved,” she stated in the post.
Fernandina Beach High School posted a note from Nassau County School District Friday morning stating that the matter is being investigated.
“We take reports of racially offensive behavior extremely seriously,” a portion of the districts note states. “Racism has no place in our schools or at our athletic events, and every student-athlete and guest deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
“District and school administrators have begun an immediate investigation, including reviewing available video, gathering information from students, coaches, staff, and others who were present, and communicating with Duval County Public Schools,” the note states. “The district will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation and in accordance with district policies.”
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