- A video shows an Illinois high-school
football player being subjected to "disturbing racist scene." - Teammates made the player sit in a locker filled with banana skins and threatened him with violence.
- The player has spoken out and said the perpetrators have apologized, and that he wants to move on.
A disturbing video shows the moment a Black high-school football player in Illinois was threatened with physical abuse and goaded into sitting in a locker full of banana skins.
In the video, which Insider is choosing not to publish, a player from Moline High School in Illinois can be heard telling his teammate to sit in the locker, where a number of banana skins had been placed.
The unseen player then says that if his teammate doesn't comply: "I will break both of your knees."
As the young man sits, the person who made the threat screams "Yes sir!" while others can be heard laughing and cheering in the background. The video is believed to have been shot last Thursday.
Police started to investigate the incident soon after the video began to circulate on Friday.
The Associated Press reported that Moline High School's football team played an away game on Friday night, and officers from Moline Police Department were waiting to speak with them when they returned to the school afterward.
Moline PD completed an investigation on Saturday and handed the incident over to the Rock Island County state's attorney for review.
"Those involved are fellow high school teammates," Moline Police Chief Darren Gault said in a statement. "They are also individuals of both different and similar races to the victim. The students directly involved in the video are all friends."
Gault added that the video showed a "disturbing racist scene."
"Regardless of these facts, we all agree that this is a disgusting way to treat a fellow teammate, a fellow human and most certainly, a friend," Gault said.
"We all agree that regardless if the students viewed this as a joke it is unacceptable behavior," Gault added. "This is a teaching moment for everyone and a reminder that we can do better."
A still from the video can be seen below.
WARNING:
Readers may find the image offensive.
Dora Villarreal, the Rock Island County state's attorney, said in a statement on Monday that the case has now been referred "for appropriate action in our Juvenile Division."
No other details are known, and Illinois has strict laws preventing the sharing of information about juvenile cases publicly.
In her statement, Villarreal also pleaded with social-media users to stop sharing the video.
Villarreal also shared comments made by the player who was subjected to the incident, in which he said he wants the matter to be put to bed and does not want to be considered a victim.
Local outlet KWQC reported that the student, who has not been named because he is a minor, said, "I want to make it known that I'm fine."
"Everyone is worried about me and showing concern for me and I really appreciate it," he said.
"Second, can everyone please stop talking about the incident and video? I understand everyone wants justice for me and they want what they think is right to be done, but I already made my feelings known to the police and my friends about how I feel about everything," he continued.
The player went on to say that those involved in the incident have since apologized, and he asked that they not be attacked online for their actions.
He said: "I love the football team I'm on and they're good guys. I know that personally. I talked to the people involved individually and they apologized. We had a heartfelt talk about it and I told them how I felt. So please don't harass, bully, or threaten them at all.
"Lastly, I want to get my life back together, and my student-athlete life back on track, so if you do ever see me or know who I am, treat me as a human first, not a victim."