The Wildkits marching band moved through a cheering crowd at Evanston Township High School’s auditorium on Monday evening. Their uniforms displayed vibrant orange and blue hues. The annual Band Day event highlighted the high school marching band’s top performances. It also featured the wind symphony, jazz ensemble, and the eighth-grade band from Evanston/Skokie School District 65.
This concert provided relief for many attendees. Just three nights earlier, the marching band and color guard reportedly faced racist and homophobic comments during a football game against New Trier High School at Evanston’s New Ryan Field. This game, held in the new $875 million stadium, should have been a celebration of camaraderie and diversity. However, for some, the evening turned sour.
Paula Lieberman, a parent of the ETHS color guard captain, shared that her daughter and fellow band members were harassed by New Trier fans seated in the general admission section during the pregame show. Her daughter recalled hearing chants of “go kill yourselves” and racial slurs like the N-word.
“It’s consumed me since my daughter came home Friday night,” Lieberman said. “The team was really shaken.”
Isaac Rochon, a sophomore saxophone player, reported hearing racial and homophobic slurs from New Trier’s student section while staying focused for the pregame.
“Nobody from the band yelled back because we had to focus,” Rochon said. “I didn’t really process what was being said at first.”
Rochon witnessed a friend being spat on by a New Trier student. He expressed the need to raise awareness as others beyond the band were also affected. Jenima Lyon’s child, a senior in the marching band, heard the slurs and disturbing comments too. Lyon noted that since many students were performing, they weren’t able to document the events.
“It was a massive deal for them to perform at the stadium,” she stated. “It was meant to be a celebration, but was tainted by ignorant actions.”
In response, superintendents Marcus Campbell and Peter Tragos issued a joint statement. They acknowledged the allegations of racist and homophobic remarks from New Trier fans during the October 16 game. The administrations are coordinating to investigate and address these issues seriously. They encouraged individuals with firsthand information to contact school administrators.
Niki Dizon, New Trier’s chief communications officer, told Pioneer Press the message was shared with students, parents, and staff. New Trier emphasizes it does not tolerate discrimination at school events.
“Our investigation is continuing,” Dizon stated. “As we proceed, we plan to collaborate with the student Belonging Council to uphold our values.”
The Belonging Council consists of students tasked with fostering cultural improvement at New Trier. Despite inquiries, Dizon did not clarify the council’s composition and oversight.
Jamie Deutch Noll, an ETHS alum at Band Day to watch her eighth grader, noted this incident mirrors past experiences of discrimination. She related current events to her own experiences at the school decades ago.
“Diversity and the upholding of its principles define Evanston,” she added. “The event was meant for both teams’ celebration, but fan behavior disappointed many.”
Raechel Alexander, the parent of a band percussionist, expressed frustration over continuous discriminatory incidents. She stressed the importance of teaching her daughter to support those affected by hate speech.
“In 2026, accepting such behavior is unacceptable. We must recognize this,” Alexander said.