‘Humiliating’: Black Cheerleader at Pennsylvania High School Was Forced Crawl Like a ‘Pet’ While White Teammates Pretended to Walk Her with a Leash, Lawsuits Says

The parents of a Black high school cheerleader in Pennsylvania have filed a federal racial discrimination lawsuit claiming peers, coaches, and school officials repeatedly singled out their daughter, including forcing her to crawl on the floor like a “pet” while a white teammate pretended to walk her with an imaginary leash.The 40-page lawsuit, filed Nov. 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleges that coaches at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg subjected the girl to disproportionate discipline, assigned her trivial tasks, excluded her from team photos, and dismissed any concerns she expressed about the mistreatment throughout the 2023-24 season.The lawsuit cites several constitutional violations, including breaches of Title VI, the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, First Amendment retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The family is demanding a jury trial.According to reports, the lawsuit names multiple defendants, including school district Superintendent Mark Blanchard, high school Principal Jesse Rawls Jr., Athletic Director Michael Craig, board member Bud Shaffner and coaches Kristi Shaffner and Bethany Mullin, who are the wife and daughter of Bud Shaffner; as well as coaches Amanda Peterson Martin and Talia Merlie, and Tanya Pickel of the CV Eagles Cheerleading...