A Black Duke University volleyball player who was subjected to racial slurs from the crowd during Friday’s game against Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, spoke on Sunday about the incident, which drew national condemnation.
Rachel Richardson, a 19-year-old sophomore and outsider, said she and her black teammates “were targeted and racially harassed throughout the game,” which was played in front of a crowd of 5,000.
In a statement, she said the insults had become “threats that made us feel unsafe.”
Richardson said BYU officials and coaching staff were made aware of the situation during and immediately after the game, “but [they] failed to take the necessary steps to stop the unacceptable conduct.”
She said she understands that some people would have liked more to have happened “in the moment”, such as an immediate protest and refusal to continue playing. She said the heckling took a mental toll, but she refused to let it stop her from doing what she loves.
“I refused to allow these racist bigots to feel any satisfaction that their comments had ‘come to me,'” she said. “So I prevailed and finished the game.”
Her BYU student opponents, Richardson said, “showed nothing but respect and good sportsmanship on and off the field.”
Following Friday’s incident, Duke said it would change the location of its Saturday game against Rider to ensure a safe atmosphere for both teams. It said players should always be able to compete in an inclusive, anti-racist environment.
BYU apologized to Duke players and said they are fully committed to eradicating racism. BYU said it banned a Duke-identified fan from all BYU Athletic venues.
Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox wrote on Twitter late Saturday, “I am disgusted that this behavior is happening and deeply saddened when others are not standing up to stop it.”
The incident was partially brought to attention by Richardson’s godmother, Lesa Pamplin, who wrote on Twitter on Saturday that Richardson had also been threatened by a white man who told her to watch her walk to the team bus.
“A police officer had to be put at their bench,” Pamplin tweeted. She confirmed the account in an interview with Reuters.
Calls to BYU officials and the BYU Police Department seeking comment Sunday went unanswered.