Blackface video leads to hate messages, threats against teens not involved
Nov 1, 2022, 6:41 PM | Updated: Nov 2, 2022, 10:43 am
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — A disturbing video on TikTok showing teens dressed up in blackface and jail outfits is not only sending shock waves across the country, but it’s also hitting the small town of Eagle Mountain in Utah County.
A concerned citizen at a Walmart in Cedar City recorded the video but 250 miles north in Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain, social media posts attacked a Cedar Valley High School student. The student was tagged in the video as one of the kids in blackface.
The hate messages and threats got so bad that a Utah County Sheriff’s deputy had to park outside the boy’s home.
“What are you talking about? No, this has nothing to do with this!” Adam Clark said to a person who called his cell phone.
Clark is the head coach of the Cedar Valley Mountain Bike Team. The boy tagged in the video is one of his athletes and he’s been fielding non-stop calls.
“It’s pretty sickening actually because you don’t have anything to do with it,” Clark said. “We are not involved. It’s just a big misunderstanding.”
According to the Alpine School District and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, no Cedar Valley High School students were involved in the video.
Clark said people don’t want to hear it when you tell them that.
“Those people don’t care what the truth is ultimately. We’ve tried to explain it,” Clark said. “What the truth was they just argue back, even when they realize they were wrong, they still find a reason to be mad at us.”
The Iron County School District said it is investigating along with the Cedar City Police Department.
“We are taking the matter very seriously and we’ve opened an investigation into the student involvement,” said Shauna Lund, a spokesperson for the Iron County School District. “We promote inclusiveness and acceptance and denounce all forms of discrimination and racism, whether they are on campus or off campus.”
