Black Lives Matter South Bend and former South Bend 2nd District Councilman Henry Davis, Jr. are calling on the South Bend Community School Corporation to suspend all athletic competitions with Penn High School.
The request follows ongoing concerns about the treatment of Black students and broader issues involving racial equity, accountability, and student safety within regional school systems.
In a joint statement, organizers said athletic participation cannot be separated from the overall school environment. They argue that continuing competition without addressing concerns could allow harmful conditions to persist.
Davis, who is also the parent of a Riley High School basketball player, emphasized the urgency of the situation.
“These are children. We are talking about young people who deserve to feel safe, respected, and valued every single day,” Davis said. “As a parent, I cannot stand by and allow Black children to be treated unjustly.”
Organizers say the proposed boycott is not aimed at student athletes, but instead at holding institutions accountable. They say the goal is to push for meaningful, systemic changes.
The group is urging school officials to:
*Immediately suspend all athletic competitions between South Bend schools and Penn High School
*Fully adopt and implement demands outlined by the NAACP
*Provide transparent communication about steps being taken to address equity and accountability concerns
Supporters say the suspension should remain in place until those conditions are met.
School officials have not yet publicly responded to the request.
3 comments
What are the alleged problems? What is the NAACP demanding? Has there been accusations of unjust treatment?
Race grifters gonna grift. Film at 11.
ALL children should never be discriminated against or demeaned based on RACE Evil evil I believe eliminating competition will hurt South bend much more than Penn What do you hope to achieve by a boycott?