University: ‘Hateful’ actions in Coeur d’Alene left players shaken

COEUR d’ALENE — The University of Utah’s women’s basketball team was a target of racism in downtown Coeur d’Alene last week, officials said Tuesday.

According to a statement from the University of Utah, there were two separate encounters Thursday.

“First, as the traveling 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,” the statement said. “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.”

The players, band and spirit teams, as well as 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,” the statement said.

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.

Coeur d’Alene police are investigating the incidents, which took place on Sherman Avenue.

“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 said. “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," the statement said.

Local officials condemned the incident and apologized during a press conference Tuesday in Coeur d’Alene.

Utah deputy athletics director Charmelle Green, who is Black, told KSL.com that when the truck revved its engine and someone shouted racist comments, they were all in shock.

“We looked at each other like, did we just hear that? ... Everybody was in shock — our cheerleaders, our students that were in that area that heard it clearly were just frozen," she said. "We kept walking, just shaking our heads, like I can't believe that."

Utah head coach Lynne Roberts, during a press conference Monday night following the team's loss to Gonzaga in the second round, said, “We had several instances of racial hate crimes toward our program.”

She said what happened in Coeur d’Alene was “incredibly upsetting” and “shocking.”

“Racism is real and it happens and it’s awful,” Roberts said.

"So for our players, whether they are white, black, green, whatever, no one knew how to handle it and it was really upsetting. And for our players and staff to not feel safe in an NCAA Tournament environment, that's messed up," she said.

According to the Associated Press, Utah, South Dakota State and UC Irvine were staying at hotels in Idaho, even with Gonzaga as the host school, because of a lack of hotel space in the Spokane area. That left limited hotel space and Gonzaga received a waiver from the NCAA to allow teams to be housed in Coeur d’Alene.

Utah and UC Irvine were both staying at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

UC Irvine officials said their team was not involved in what happened with the Utah team, but on Friday was also moved to a hotel in Spokane.

"The NCAA reached out to us, and we requested to move as well for the well-being and safety of our student-athletes and the entire travel party," a UC Irvine spokesperson said.

UC Irvine lost to Gonzaga on Saturday.

A South Dakota State spokesperson said their team stayed in Post Falls, and didn't have any issues.

South Dakota State lost to Utah on Saturday.

The University of Utah's statement said that as those impacted 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."

The statement said the university wanted to express gratitude for the care and concern demonstrated by Gonzaga University and for the comments 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," according to the statement.

Roberts said the NCAA tournament should have been a joyous time for the program.  

“To have kind of a black eye on that experience is unfortunate,” she said.

At Tuesday's press conference, Hammond said the city has a long history of fighting for and upholding human rights, civil rights and dignity for all. 

“We continue to be committed to those ideals and we’re intolerant of any form of harassment in our city,” Hammond said. 

To the young women who endured racial slurs while visiting, Hammond offered “my most sincere apology. We, all of us, stand with you, we embrace you, We celebrate your accomplishments, and strongly denounce any malicious treatment toward you.”

Hammond said the city pledges to continue to work toward positive change.

“We believe that all should be treated with kindness, dignity and respect,” he said.

Bill Reagan, president of The Coeur d’Alene Resort, said, “On behalf of the downtown business community, let me apologize for this terrible situation.”

He said the players had a right to walk downtown, free of harassment.

“Don’t let the actions of a few indict all of Coeur d’Alene,” Reagan said. “Stand united and do not tolerate this type of behavior.”

He said Coeur d’Alene became an All-America City 30 years ago because it stood up for what is right.

“We remain united today,” Reagan said.

Megan Dardis-Kuntz of Coeur d’Alene held a sign during the press conference that read, “End White Supremacy.”

“We’ve had increases in Christian white nationalism in our community,” she said.

Dardis-Kuntz said that last week, the Community Library Network voted to no longer observe Juneteenth, the state and federally recognized holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States.

“And then this happens. I think it just shows a continued pattern in our community of concern,” she said.

Jan Studer, a retired teacher who moved from Boundary County to Coeur d’Alene in 2013, held a sign that read, “Not in our town, not in our state. Idaho is too great for hate.”

She said she has been active in civil rights and taught her students about Ruby Bridges and Martin Luther King. 

“I want a state that doesn't just say the words, but stands up for social justice and human rights for everybody,” Studer said. 

She fears that the area has a climate “that says ignore social justice, ignore diversity.”

“It’s not good to ignore all those things,” Studer said.

Steve Widmyer, former mayor of Coeur d’Alene, also attended the press conference.

"We fought racism and bigotry in Coeur d'Alene for a long time now and we're going to continue to do it. We're going to shine the bright lights on that ugly behavior and we're going to call anyone out that does it,” he said.

    Jan Studer listens during Tuesday's press conference in Coeur d'Alene to address a racial incident that was reported last week.
  

    Coeur d'Alene Mayor Jim Hammond addresses the media on Tuesday.