Seven coaches lost their jobs after a school board in Canton decided to dismiss them based on an incident where a Jewish student-athlete was forced to have pepperoni pizza, against his religious beliefs, as a punishment in front of the whole football team.
How did it all happen?
The incident took place on May 25 at the McKinley Senior High School in Canton, as The Blaze reported. The 17-year-old student said that Marcus Wattley, the head coach, told him to sit on a chair in the middle of the gym. He was then allegedly instructed to eat an entire pepperoni pizza.
The punishment occurred because the student had missed a voluntary strengthening and conditioning practice.
Ed Gilbert, the player’s family attorney, said the family intends to file a lawsuit because the student’s constitutional rights were not respected.
The family claims the student told the coach several times that he was strictly forbidden from eating pork by his religious faith.
Wattley did allow the student to pick some of the cheese off the pizza and the pepperoni, but pork residue still remained on it. Gilbert also pointed out that the student had been threatened that other players would be punished as well if he refused to eat the pizza.
There was also an implied threat that he would be taken out of the team. The trauma after the incident made it necessary for the student to undergo therapy sessions.
How did the school board react to the accusations?
After learning about the accusations, the Canton City School Board stated in a news release that they had unanimously voted to fire seven coaches, including the head coach.
Wattley’s attorney argued before the school council that no one forced or coerced the student to eat pork.
“This young man had every opportunity to leave the room at any time,” the attorney said.
The student’s father said that this was disrespect since the Canton family had not eaten pork since 2013.