A Colorado high school is facing backlash after its basketball coach reportedly hung up a Palestinian flag during a game against a Jewish school and then refused to shake hands with the opposing coaches.
A boys basketball game between Lotus School For Excellence and Denver Academy of Torah (DAT) last Wednesday showed flashes of antisemitism, particularly over the non-handshake postgame, Brandon Rattiner of the Jewish Community Relations Council said in an interview.
Rattiner, who was talking on behalf of the Denver Academy of Torah, called the actions disappointing and shocking.
“I think everybody in the Jewish community is very aware that there’s been a rising tide of antisemitism since Oct. 7,” he said in reference to Hamas’ terror attack on Israel.
“And we’ve seen it in schools here and all throughout the country on many different occasions.”
Attendees of the high school game told Rattiner that the Palestinian flag was draped over the rafters and the Lotus coach would not shake hands with opposing coaches at DAT, he said.
“The key issue here is when the coach refuses to engage with a Jewish coach and Jewish students simply because they are Jewish or holding them personally accountable for a conflict started, not by Israel by the way, halfway across the world thousands and thousands of miles away,” he told The Post.
“Holding Jewish people accountable for the state actions of Israel is a textbook form of antisemitism,” he added.
The Lotus coach — who was only identified by CBS Colorado as “Coach O” and is an hourly part-time staffer — was suspended after the game for brandishing the flag, Secondary Principal of Lotus Ermek Bakyt said.
“As a public charter school, Lotus School for Excellence (LSE) does not encourage or tolerate the display of any political or religious symbols,” he said in an emailed statement.
An assistant coach was also suspended by school leaders, according to Bakyt.
“As a public school committed to respect, inclusion, and equity, Lotus School for Excellence does not tolerate any form of antisemitism or behavior that undermines our values,” the school leader added.
Rattiner commended Lotus for taking swift action and stressed there has been a dialogue between the two schools.
“The schools got together and were committed to finding a good outcome,” Rattiner said.
“I think it’s really important to note that schools decided to treat this as a moment to teach and a moment to educate and a moment to bring people together rather than a moment to divide.”
