DUXBURY (CBS) – Duxbury High School fired football coach Dave Maimaron on Wednesday and canceled the team’s next scheduled game as a result of players using anti-Semitic language on the field earlier this month.
Players are accused of using “highly offensive” terms during a game against Plymouth North last weekend.
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Maimaron released a statement on Monday about the incident. He did not specify what was said in the field, but said that “using the term was careless, unnecessary and most importantly, damaging in appearance – inexcusable”
School officials began an investigation and on Tuesday announced that it was confirmed that players used anti-Semitic terms to call it a game.
The Anti-Defamation League is now working with the school and an independent investigator is trying to find out how this was allowed.
“My understanding is that Auschwitz, rabbi and dreidel have been replaced with the name of the pieces,” said Robert Trestan, of the Anti-Defamation League.
The school announced on Wednesday that the games scheduled for this weekend against Hingham will not be played. A decision on future games will be made at a later date.
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Schools superintendent John Antonucci said he would be “deaf” to play this weekend.
Duxbury High Head Coach Dave Maimaron backstage against Tewksbury High during the MIAA Division 3 football semifinal at Xaverian Brothers High in Westwood, MA on November 23, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee / The Boston Globe)
“First of all, we want to make it perfectly clear that we recognize how serious this is and that it is getting our full attention,” said Antonucci. “We also recognize that this is a highly emotional problem for our community, and many outside of it. The indignation is real, justified and we hear it. The fact that members of our school community use offensive language, including anti-Semitic language, is horrifying and disappointing. “
The Duxbury School District hired Edward Mitnick of Just Training Solutions, LLC to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations made against the football team. Mitnick is a lawyer and researcher.
Antonucci said the investigation will be completed “as quickly as possible”.
State Senator Barry Finegold, who is Jewish and played football in high school and college, reached out to the football team, offering to educate them about the history of the word.
“I don’t know how a coach would allow that to happen. For me, it is a lack of respect for Jewish culture, the Jewish religion, it is very surprising, ”said Finegold. “When someone says Auschwitz, I don’t think these young people understand how harmful and damaging it is to Jews.”
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Duxbury residents are beside themselves – and a local group called Duxbury For All says there is a lot of work to be done. “This is a really nice city and our hope is to make it a more diverse and inclusive place,” said Bruce Rutter of Duxbury For All.