During a volleyball game against the Pleasant Grove Lady Hawks on Tuesday night, spectators from the opposing side not on spat on the North Lamar Pantherette’s but made sexual remarks about their bodies and hands gestures “shooting” people in the stands.
And it was all caught on camera (see video below) with the game being streamed live on YouTube by Texarkana / Longview Gameday.
Posting the footage on social media, NLISD board member Lauren Woodard said, “Is this really how you treat your guest athletes in your gym, Pleasant Grove? Your resource officers didn’t mind. Your Athletic Director didn’t answer during the game or this morning when I called. I haven’t received a call back hours later either.”
Woodard added that several players said sexual remarks were also made about their bodies.
The video has quickly gone viral, with many sharing their disgust in what they saw.
“I think this video says all it needs to. Pleasant Grove High, I am disgusted with your students, and staff,” said Natalie Washington. “Your athletic director, coaches, and resource officer stood over there and did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about this behavior. Our players were bullied and made fun of for the entire game. Our anatomy was talked about in sexual ways, and shaming ways. Your fans imitated gun use, SPIT on our players, which btw is assault, talking about my body, which ALSO btw is sexual harassment. I’m astonished that high school volleyball has come to this and has been made to this extent. I’m disgusted with this WHOLE school and I encourage every person on my Facebook to send an email and show the disappointment to that whole district. (AD) Josh Gibson, (Superintendent) Chad Pirtle, (principal) Natalie Reeves, and every other coach and adult that stood over there, you should be ASHAMED.”
Another parent said they asked the referee six times if they (the fans) were allowed to do that and “he did absolutely nothing.”
Ashley Conklin said, “This was the worst I have ever seen !!!! I was on the other side of the gym and could hear the students yelling “y’all are trash” and other things . Leaning OVER the rails to say things to the girls. While security and other adults that were all standing right there literally did nothing and acted like it was normal. I couldn’t wait to get out of that gym. Unacceptable.”
Many are calling on the University Interscholastic League (UIL), Arkansas Activities Association and Pleasant Grove ISD to investigate.
myparistexas.com reached out to Pleasant Grove ISD for a statement but received no response at the time of publication.
