Access to Lincoln-Way East HS football game to be restricted after alleged racist incident

FRANKFORT, Ill. (WLS) -- A south suburban high school football team is playing for the first time on Friday night since last week's alleged racial harassment incident.

Last Friday, five students from Lincoln-Way East High School were seen making monkey gestures and sounds at the Homewood-Flossmoor High School football game. ABC7 Chicago blurred video of that incident, as those involved are believed to be minors.

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Those students are facing discipline, and Homewood-Flossmoor administrators said they are considering legal options against some of them.

And on Tuesday, Homewood-Flossmoor said there was a second incident that involved the Lincoln-Way East Girl's Cross Country Team at an invitational in Lyons Township.

Homewood-Flossmoor High School athletes reported that some of the team members and coaches began cheering and making "noises that were racist." In a statement posted to social media, three cross country student-athletes from Homewood-Flossmoor described overhearing the coach at Lincoln-Way East referring to them as "monkeys."

When Homewood-Flossmoor reached out to Lincoln-Way East regarding Tuesday's incident, they were told it was a misunderstanding. Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 said the statement was released before Lincoln-Way's administration could complete its investigation.

On Wednesday, dozens of students walked out from Lincoln-Way East, protesting against the two incidents.

At Friday night's home football game, only students from Lincoln-Way East and the opposing school will be allowed into the game, as long as they have valid school IDs.