Lawsuit seeks MIAA records on discrimination at sporting events
Lawyers for Civil Rights on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association that seeks public records regarding incidents of discrimination, harassment and bullying at sporting events sponsored by the MIAA.
The group filed the suit with the law firm Anderson Kreiger, alleging that details of MIAA actions to mitigate or investigate discriminatory incidents "remain largely unknown" despite efforts to obtain information about the MIAA's Discriminatory Incident Process and any anti-discrimination training.
Lawyers for Civil Rights said virtually all public secondary schools in Massachusetts participate in sporting events governed by MIAA rules, and that "the issue of racial bullying in schools is prevalent and by many measures on the rise in the Commonwealth and nationwide."
On June 26, Lawyers for Civil Rights submitted a request for public records about the incident process and training. The group said the MIAA produced only two documents that Lawyers for Civil Rights said are already available on the MIAA website.
"Ensuring that adequate remedial measures are in place to maintain a safe environment for student athletes of color during sporting events is impossible while MIAA refuses to release records about its practices and protocols for addressing the rising number of discriminatory incidents," Sophia Hall, LCR deputy litigation director, said.
The lawsuit filed in Norfolk County Superior Court seeks to require that the MIAA produce the specific requested records, and "to confirm that MIAA is beholden to the Public Records Law for all future family requestors," according to LCR.
Asked for comment on the lawsuit, MIAA Assistant Director Jim Clark said in an emailed statement, "The MIAA has been made aware of current litigation, and is unable to comment any further."
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