COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – The University of Utah women’s basketball team was harassed and screamed at by a group of racists in Coeur d’Alene during the NCAA Tournament. State leaders and institutions are offering responses to the incident.
Idaho Governor Brad Little shared a statement condemning the potential hate crime on Tuesday morning.
“Thank you to the Coeur d’Alene community for stepping up to reinforce that the city is a welcoming, safe space…There is no place for racism, hate, or bigotry in the great State of Idaho,” Little said.
Little’s human rights record was previously condemned by the Human Rights Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union. Neither organization has offered responses to the recent Coeur d’Alene incident as of the publishing of this article.
Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke also condemned racism and argued that the event does not represent Gem State values.
“I am disgusted and angry about the disturbing events in Coeur d’Alene…This foul incident caused by a few is inexcusable and does not in any way reflect Idaho’s shared values,” Bedke said.
North Idaho College also offered a condemnation of the incident.
“No student’s experience should ever be marred by hostility and intimidation. We stand by and support the college student-athletes, coaches, and support staff affected by this unacceptable incident,” the college said.
Coeur d’Alene Resort co-owner Jerry Jager offered his apologies to the Utah team in a written statement.
“[Aryan] nations in the past have hurt the economy in Coeur d’Alene. It is very detrimental to…all the hundreds of folks that make their living in Coeur d’Alene off tourism business…What I want made known is that we owe a deep apology to…university of Utah women’s basketball,” Jager said.
Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea argued that racism is an ugly part of the state’s past, but that it does not have to persist into the future.
“Racism is a painful and ugly part of Idaho’s history, particularly in Kootenai County, and clearly persists today, but it need not be part of our future. It is time for every Idahoan…to reaffirm our commitment to ending racial injustice,” Necochea said.
There were 47 hate crimes in Idaho recorded by the US Department of Justice in 2022. 70 percent of those crimes were racially motivated.
