School districts promote unity after football game tensions

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Two Southern California school districts say they are working together to promote unity and respect for diversity after tensions at a high school football game.

Santa Ana Unified and Capistrano Unified said Wednesday that officials are looking into the details of last week’s game between Santa Ana and Aliso Niguel high schools and working to ensure these don’t lead to division but rather “dialogue, collaboration and mutual understanding.”

Santa Ana’s principal Jeff Bishop said students from his predominantly Latino school were greeted with posters such as “Trump 2020” and cheers of “USA” when their opponents scored. Aliso Niguel’s principal said administrators removed political signs and the game was intended to be a patriotic celebration ahead of Sept. 11.

The events sparked tensions on social media. Aliso Niguel won 42-21.