Marvis Herring -

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- The superintendent of Forest Hills Public Schools has issued an apology for a display by students standing with Forest Hills Central fans during Friday's high school football game against Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills.

Some of the students cheering on the Forest Hills Central football team wore red, white and blue. Others also brought along a Donald Trump campaign flag and the old Betsy Ross flag, which has 13 stars in a circle representing the 13 colonies.

Critics of the display claim it was racist and intimidating to the predominantly black home team playing against Forest Hills Central's mostly white school.

"It's all very obvious. You can't deny the overt, intentional racism and intimidation," said Briana Urena-Ravelo, a longtime Grand Rapids resident who learned of the situation after a friend posted a video from the game at Houseman Field.

"For these white kids from a white school to bring out a flag of the colonies with the ‘Make America Great Again' Trump flag to a game with black students on the field, it's all very obvious," she continued.

Comments agreeing with her poured in on Facebook. Dozens of people shared photos and videos from the game.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209821397232780&set=a.2077273932610.2122438.1267845664&type=3&theater

Urena-Ravelo explained to 24 Hour News 8 why she thinks parading the Betsy Ross flag at a game against a predominantly black school like Ottawa Hill High is offensive.

"What were the conditions for people of color when that flag was created? I was property. Other people were getting their land stolen," she said.

Dr. Tony Baker, the president of Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education, was at Friday's game.

"I realized that there was this real buzz of concern from the principal and teachers and some of the parents who were concerned about the message that was being portrayed," he told 24 Hour News 8 over the phone Saturday.

Baker said that he and the principal talked at the game about a response to keep students safe, but he said they were also concerned about freedom of speech. He said that he can't know if it was an intentionally offensive display and added that he hopes it was not.

Saturday night, Forest Hills Public Schools Superintendent Dan Behm told 24 Hour News 8 that he was not at the game but the high school principal was. He said the principal told him the students chose a red, white and blue theme as this week's theme for the student spirit section. He said the student claimed it was meant to be in honor of the 9/11 anniversary on Saturday.

The principal told Behm that the students with the flags were made aware that people were feeling uncomfortable. The principal said they "complied right away," according to Behm. Behm said he does not believe it was any student's intention to offend anyone. He said they will be talking with the students involved.

Behm also sent out a letter to the community on Monday in response to an open letter submitted by a GRPS parent. He said he wants to work with staff to make sure students think about how their actions can be perceived.

"Injecting partisan politics into a community football game and into a commemoration of the events of September 11th is inappropriate. Parading our current United States flag in a manner that is inconsistent with proper etiquette is disrespectful to all who have served our nation. And, to wave a historical version of our flag, that to some symbolizes exclusion and hate, injects hostility and confusion to an event where no one intended to do so. To our gracious hosts — the students, families, staff, and community of Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills High School and Grand Rapids Public Schools — and to the student-athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters of both teams, we are truly sorry. These actions are not characteristic of our schools, our staff, our students, or our community, and they represent a lack of knowledge," Behm wrote.

Some fans defended the students making the display, saying it was simply a show of political support.

Baker said that no matter the intention, some people felt uncomfortable.

"The consequence, whether it was intended or not, was that people felt that they were being taunted," he said.

Forest Hills Central won the game 35 to 14.

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Monday, GRPS Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal provided this statement on the incident:

"Let me first start by thanking our students, parents, staff, and community members for expressing their deep concerns and disappointment about the actions of a few event goers. I also want to thank Forest Hills Public Schools Superintendent Dan Behm for his leadership, open letter to the community, and the apology he extended today. I cannot deny the hurt, disrespect, and outrage that I and so many others in this community felt about these actions that took place in our backyard, in our home at Houseman Field. This type of behavior should not and will not be tolerated in our stadium or schools – nor should it in any across our state and nation. I agree with Superintendent Behm that we as educators need to use this as a teachable moment and work together with the Kent ISD and MHSAA to ensure our student athletes, coaches, athletic directors, parents and our supporters are better informed, culturally sensitive, and more prepared to create an atmosphere where everyone – regardless of age, income, race, ethnicity, religion, native language, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation – are welcomed, respected, and can enjoy an athletic event together."