Evanston High School Band Faces Alleged Abuse During Game

The Wildkits marching band made a vibrant entrance at the Evanston Township High School auditorium. The annual Band Day event saw the band in their iconic orange and blue uniforms energize the crowd. The showcase included performances from the wind symphony, jazz ensemble, and the eighth-grade band from Evanston/Skokie School District 65.

The event offered attendees a momentary escape from unsettling incidents at a recent football game. Allegations arose of racial and homophobic comments directed at the marching band and color guard by New Trier High School fans. The game occurred at the newly developed $875 million stadium and was designed to celebrate community spirit and diversity. However, some attendees experienced the opposite.

Paula Lieberman, whose daughter leads the ETHS color guard, shared her daughter’s troubling experience. Lieberman described fans in the general admission section using offensive language, including racial slurs, during the pregame show. “It’s consumed me since my daughter came home Friday night,” Lieberman noted, highlighting the distress felt by the team.

Isaac Rochon, a sophomore saxophone player, recounted hearing abusive comments while positioned in the end zone. Despite the offensive remarks, the band maintained focus for their performance. “I didn’t really process what was being said at first,” Rochon remarked. He witnessed a New Trier student spitting on a band member’s face. Rochon emphasized ongoing efforts to highlight such behaviors, acknowledging this issue isn’t isolated.

Jenima Lyon’s daughter, a senior band member, also endured the verbal assault. She felt unsupported, noting, “there were no repercussions.” The absence of phones during performances meant these moments weren’t recorded, making it difficult to provide concrete evidence.

Superintendents Marcus Campbell of Evanston Township and Peter Tragos of New Trier addressed the reports seriously in a joint statement. They assured collaborative efforts to investigate and determine next steps. Niki Dizon from New Trier communicated to the school community via email, affirming zero tolerance for discrimination. She mentioned ongoing investigations and planned collaboration with the student Belonging Council to reinforce school values.

The Belonging Council, as detailed on New Trier’s site, consists of students advocating for an inclusive environment. Questions remain about the council’s composition and oversight, as Dizon hasn’t elaborated on these aspects.

Jamie Deutch Noll, an ETHS alum who attended the Band Day event, reflected on the continuity of such behavior from her time as a student. “It speaks not just to the school, but to the parents in the community,” Noll emphasized, calling for accountability. She praised Evanston’s commitment to diversity, hoping for better community conduct in future celebrations.

Raechel Alexander, another parent, expressed her disbelief at the continuation of such behavior. Her child in the band was among those targeted. “In 2026, how do they think this is okay?” she questioned. Alexander stressed the importance of teaching her daughter, a white child, the significance of standing against hate speech.