Justice Dept. to Mediate Dunbar, Fort Hill Meeting

The U.S. Justice Department has offered to mediate a meeting between the coaching staffs of two high schools whose Sept. 19 football game was broken up by allegations of racism and both sides have agreed to participate, school officials said today.

A date and place for the meeting have yet to be set, according to officials for D.C. schools and Maryland's Allegany County school system.

"I know that our school is more than willing to sit down and try to work something out and try to come to some kind of positive agreement," said Mia Perlozzo, spokeswoman for the Allegany County schools.

Players from D.C.'s Dunbar High School walked off the field in the third quarter of the game at Fort Hill High School in Cumberland, alleging players on the home team had attacked them with racial slurs. Fort Hill players and coaches contend no racial comments were made. Several groups are investigating the matter, including the Maryland attorney general and the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. A D.C. school investigation will conclude in "a couple days," said Dena Iverson, chief spokeswoman.

Civic leaders in Allegany County are concerned that the allegations have further tarnished the community's reputation. Last spring, an African-American family said it was driven from Fort Hill High by racial taunts. That incident remains under federal investigation; the school has responded by banning the Confederate flag from campus and initiating a tolerance program.

The Justice Department assists groups dealing with racial strife through its Community Relations Service, said Ryan Breitenbach, its senior counsel. Breitenbach said he could not disclose whether his agency is working with the two schools because of confidentiality rules.