Eight high school football coaches from McKinley Senior High School, including head football coach Marcus Wattley and seven other assistants, are being accused of violating the 17-year-old player’s First Amendment rights. The family of said player is reportedly planning on suing the school district after being forced to eat pepperoni pizza. The player, who is Hebrew Israelite, cannot consume pork which is against their beliefs. He had reportedly made repeated attempts to avoid eating it as a punishment for missing a practice.
“Gilbert told The Washington Post on Wednesday that the 17-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, was verbally assaulted by the coaches and faced pressure from his peers to eat the pizza despite his religious beliefs.
Head Coach Wattley and his assistant coaches Badre El Bardawil, Cade Brodie, Joshua Grimsley, Romero Harris, Frank McLeod, Zachary Sweat, and Tyler Thatcher have all been placed on paid administrative leave last week after the district’s superintendent found out via a complaint.
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