A Colorado high school basketball coach has been hit with a suspension for allegedly hanging up a Palestinian flag and then refusing a handshake with the opposing head coach of a Jewish school following a recent game between the two.
The Jan. 22 game was between Denver Torah Academy and Lotus School for Excellence in Aurora. Speaking to 9 News in Denver, Lotus said their head coach, who is being branded as “Coach O,” put up a Palestinian flag prior to the game. This was the first time he had done so, according to the school. (RELATED: Insanity Continues As Female Soccer Player Suspended For Questioning If Transgender Opponents Are Men)
Lotus said the coach took another act with the Palestinian flag following the game prior to heading over to the handshake line. Then, he reportedly declined to shake hands with every single one of the Denver Torah coaches.
“He grabs his flag and puts it around his neck,” said Lotus Athletic Director Deon Jackson. “We saw the intent at that point.”
Colo. high school coach hung Palestinian flag, refused to shake hands during basketball game against Jewish school https://t.co/GiWzkaPMXN pic.twitter.com/tUPd3OvS8m
— New York Post (@nypost) January 29, 2025
The principal of Lotus’ secondary school, Emrek Bakyt, announced the suspension of the coach as well as an assistant coach, per the New York Post.
“It has nothing to do with Lotus,” said Bakyt. “It does not represent us, and we are, again, all about respect and diversity. That’s what we celebrate. That’s what we take pride in.”
A member of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Brandon Rattiner, condemned “Coach O” and his actions in a New York Post interview.
“I think everybody in the Jewish community is very aware that there’s been a rising tide of antisemitism since Oct. 7,” said Rattiner, representing Denver Torah. “And we’ve seen it in schools here and all throughout the country on many different occasions.”
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
