Federal Complaint Filed Over Alleged Santa Monica High Racial Harassment Incident

A social activist has filed a federal complaint against two members of the Santa Monica High School wrestling team and their coach, it was announced Wednesday. The complaint is regarding a highly publicized, in which two white wrestlers are accused of harassing a black member of the team.

The complaint was filed by Najee Ali, director of the Los Angeles-based Project Islamic H.O.P.E.

"[Samohi wrestling coach Mark] Black walked in on the attack but never reported the hate crime to the police," Ali said in his complaint. "Instead he helped plan and participated in the cover-up of the racist hate crime against one of his students by encouraging those who had taken pictures of the noose to delete them. Black and the students responsible for the attack must be brought to justice."

The complaint also stated that "terrorizing" an individual with a noose is a criminal offense that can lead to up to a year in jail or a fine of no more than $5,000. A noose was reported to have been placed in the locker room where the incident allegedly took place.

Previously, Ali, called for a federal investigation into the alleged incident (see the attached video).

"We are outraged that school officials are not taking this with enough seriousness," he said. "Based on the racially motivated actions of the students, we feel that federal hate crime charges should filed.

Ali was also one of dozens of people who about the alleged incident at last week's Board of Education meeting. During his comments, he displayed a noose.

"Superintendent [Tim] Cuneo and school officials' delay in reporting the hate crime and not notifying the mother of the victim, Victoria Gray, were part of a shameless cover-up of a vicious racist attack and hate crime," he said. “We are outraged by the superintendent’s office, the principal and law enforcement ... it’s a slap in the face of all students who have the potential of being the victims of hate.”

According to a complaint filed with the Santa Monica Police Department, the white wrestlers used a cable to a tie their black teammate to the locker while they yelled, "Slave for sale," and made other racially charged statements. It was also reported that a brown practice mannequin with a noose tied around the neck was found nearby.

The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the alleged incident. According to a statment on the SMPD's website, there have been allegations that school administrators "had handled the incident unlawfully." This is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.