The Rapid City Journal has reported that a group...

The Rapid City Journal has reported that a group of Native American students on a class trip to a Rapid City Rush hockey game Jan. 24 were subjected to racial slurs and sprayed with beer.

Craig Baltzer, executive director of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, said the claims of harassment appear credible and are under investigation.

Tom Helland, the president of Eagle Sales, a Rapid City beer distributor, said the harassment came from people in a suite the company rents out. In a statement of apology, the company said guests, who are non-employees, were responsible for the poor behavior. The Rush also issued a statement apologizing.

Justin Poor Bear wrote on his Facebook page that he was at the game with students from the 21st Century Club of American Horse School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He said there were about 15 people in the suite above the students’ seats. The verbal harassment began in the third period, and beer was thrown on some of the students and staff. A teacher gathered the students and left the arena in fear of their safety, Poor Bear wrote.

Baltzer said the civic centre is working to identify the alleged harassers who could face a ban from attending future events.