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Tony Humphrey transferred to Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York in hopes of improving as a baseball player. However, his high hopes were quickly squashed when a school administrator made a highly offensive comment about him.
Humphrey transferred to Iona Preparatory High School with the intention of playing baseball. While there, he gained an interest in track and field because he felt it would improve his base running ability. During track practice, Humphrey told Pix 11 News that the school's assistant athletic director asked him about his decision to take on another athletic commitment.
“He comes up to me and asked why I was doing track,” Humphrey told the local news outlet.
“It never hurts to gain speed,” Humphrey replied when asked by the school administrator.
Instead of applauding the baseball star's commitment to improving his speed, the school administrator allegedly told Humphrey that he had improved his "speed by running from the police.” Taken aback by the comment, the 16-year-old baseball star told the school administrator that his comment was racist.
“That was racist. There was no reason for him to say that,” Humphrey told Pix 11 News.
After learning about what took place, Humphrey's mother informed the school and pulled her son from Iona Prep. The 16-year-old will now go to a public school closer to his home.
“I decided to leave, because of my current situation, as I’m already going to [college]. I don’t feel like I have to stay at a program where they’re going to look at me different, or feel uncomfortable at a place I have to go to Monday through Friday," he said.
“There were other instances of racism during my freshman year. I took it up with the dean, I took it up with the higher-ups, and nothing happened to the other student.”
In the aftermath of what occurred, students staged a walkout and Iona Preparatory School President Thomas R. Leto reportedly issued a letter to students and parents. According to BET, Leto said the school "does not condone" the administrator's actions. He also noted that the official has resigned.
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