Second school in Colorado Springs alleges racism by members of Lutheran High School community

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- After allegations of racism made by members of the Sand Creek High School community by Lutheran High School, another Colorado Springs school says they faced similar treatment.

RELATED REPORTING: Sand Creek High School students allege racism from Lutheran High School students

Rampart High School played at Lutheran on Friday, October 2, and after the game, members of the Rampart community reached out to KRDO13 with new allegations of racism from members of the Lutheran High School community.

A parent tells KRDO13 that she and her daughter were a target of the alleged racism.

"Get out of here (racial slur)," she says they were told. They said they feared for their safety. 

The next day, the Rampart JV team hosted Lutheran at District 20 Stadium. Multiple parents allege that a player on the Lutheran football team yelled a racist insult at the Rampart team manager. According to those parents, that insult was also heard by a Rampart player.

Those parents say they brought the issue to the Lutheran coaching staff. Academy School District 20 says it has contacted the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) about the issue.

Mayor of Parker Joshua Rivero, where Lutheran High School is located, says he is "deeply troubled" by the allegations.

Mayor Rivero's statement to KRDO13:

"I am deeply troubled by reports of racist behavior experienced by visitors to our community. Racism and discrimination have no place in Parker, and everyone who lives in or visits our Town deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

While this reported incident occurred at a privately operated school, we take seriously any situation that causes someone to feel unwelcome in our community. We are reaching out to the school’s leadership to better understand what occurred, how they are responding and what steps they are taking in response.

Parker is a community that values kindness, respect and inclusion. Reports like this remind us that living up to those values requires continued attention and effort from all of us. To those who shared this experience, I want you to know that your concerns matter, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect when they are in our community.  We will continue to shine a light on racism and discrimination wherever they occur, and we will meet them with courage, compassion and love.”

In a statement to KRDO13, Lutheran Executive Director, Dan Gehrke, said the following:

"We are aware of allegations of student misconduct at recent football games. We take these allegations seriously and are actively investigating them, which includes speaking with students, staff and witnesses from both schools. We will take any disciplinary action warranted by the findings in accordance with our school policies and will continue to promote a level of conduct that treats all people with dignity, kindness, and Christ-like love."

Gehrke also provided KRDO13 with an email he sent to the Lutheran High School community. He says in the letter that the school did not receive an official report of any player misconduct during the Sand Creek High School game. He says specifically that the claim about Lutheran High School students whipping belts towards Sand Creek members "appears to be untrue."

Letter shared by Gehrke sent to Lutheran High School community:

Dear Lutheran High School Families -
"I wanted to send an update regarding our 9/24 football game with Sand Creek. We have continued our investigation of the allegations, and I reached out to Sand Creek by email last Wednesday 9/30 and requested a meeting with both the Principal and the D49 Superintendent. We agreed to meet last Friday afternoon at 2:15 PM, and I met with them at Sand Creek High School.

I started the meeting with an apology. I apologized on behalf of Lutheran High that their cheerleaders had anything less than a good experience while on our campus. I explained that they were our guests, and it was incumbent on us that they feel genuine hospitality. I also apologized for the bad set up of our stadium, and that it was not properly marked for visitors to not have to go through our student
section bleachers. I also added that it really shouldn’t matter, that walking by and between the bleachers of our student section shouldn’t have been a negative experience in any way.

We discussed the events of the evening, and I explained that we are still investigating what was said to their cheerleaders.

We have received no official report of inappropriate behavior by our players during the Sand Creek game.

The allegation that our students were hitting each other with belts as an act of racism toward their cheerleaders appears to be untrue.

When that was reported to me that evening, we were able to immediately identify those students with the help of the Sand Creek cheerleaders and their coach. The three questioned students were not Lutheran High School students. I questioned them in front of the cheerleaders and their coach and the explanation was that they were chasing and hitting each other with their belts. A review of the security footage supports that explanation.

With that allegation cleared, we are still diligently investigating what was said to their cheerleaders and who said it. We are still requesting firsthand information from anyone who may have witnessed the interaction. If our students were rude, racist, or both - it is unacceptable and will be dealt with. We will apologize for our sin, ask for forgiveness, accept the consequences, and do everything in our power to make it right and avoid it happening again in the future.

Any other allegations in the future will be handled in this same fashion.

Unfortunately, sin exists everywhere and Satan will do everything in his power to derail us. It certainly feels like he is doing his worst right now. Fortunately, we have a Savior in Jesus who died to take away that sin for everyone. The war has already been won. And in that grace, I can once again reiterate for everyone that Lutheran High School believes that racism is abhorrent and counter to what the Bible says - that everyone is made in the image of God. Our students hear this on a daily basis.

Please pray for everyone involved in this during this time. Pray for both schools and their families. God is on the throne, at work for His kingdom even when we can’t see it.

I will continue to update the Lutheran High School family as appropriate.

Dan Gehrke
Executive Director, Lutheran High School."

Academy School District 20 released the following statement to KRDO13:

"Academy District 20 is aware of reports of inappropriate comments directed toward Rampart High School students and supporters during recent football games involving Lutheran High School.

Rampart administrators and athletic staff investigated the reports and shared those findings directly with Lutheran High School. In instances where concerns were reported during an event, our staff also notified Lutheran coaches and administrators at that time.

Academy District 20 is focused on supporting the students directly affected and providing Lutheran High School with the information needed to independently investigate and respond to the reported conduct."

School District 49, which represents Sand Creek, released the following statement:

"Leaders of Sand Creek High School are in close communication with Lutheran High School after immediately sharing their concerns with LHS and The Colorado High School Athletic Association (CHSAA). LHS is in the process of investigating the claims and, if verified, have provided assurances they will determine the next steps for anyone involved. We are encouraged that LHS is responding to SCHS’ concerns and is actively working to see the investigation through to a complete and appropriate conclusion."

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