STAND UP FOR OUR KIDS: FIGHTING INJUSTICE IN YOUTH SPORTS

In today’s world, injustice is everywhere. We see it, hear about it, and are faced with a choice—to take action or to turn a blind eye because it does not directly impact us. But what happens when it does? When injustice strikes at the heart of your own family, when it targets your child—do you stay silent, or do you rise up and fight with everything you have? Feel free to send an email to this school and support EVAN SANTINI-"[email protected]" <[email protected]>u rise up and fight with everything you have? Feel free to send an email to this school and support EVAN SANTINI-"[email protected]" <[email protected]>

For me, the answer is clear. I have spent my life standing up for what is right, and when my son became a victim of an abuse of power, there was no hesitation. His only “crime” was defending someone smaller and more vulnerable than himself. Yet, instead of being recognized for his courage, he was punished—removed from his baseball team by a coach who let his ego outweigh his duty to his players.

Let’s call this what it is: cowardice. A grown man, entrusted with shaping young athletes, chose to wield his authority not as a mentor but as a weapon. My son wasn’t removed from the team or benched for poor performance or misconduct—he was removed for standing up for someone else. That is not discipline; that is oppression. That is silencing a voice that dared to challenge injustice. And I refuse to let it stand.

Baseball is more than just a game for my son; it is his passion. He has played for three years without issue, never once being benched. To take that away from him, to rip him off the field not because of his skills but because he dared to speak up, is not just an attack on him—it is an attack on every student who dares to stand up for what is right.

Feel free to send an email to this school and support EVAN SANTINI-"[email protected]" <[email protected]>

So what do we do? Do we let this slide and allow coaches like this to continue abusing their power, shaping young minds into submission and fear? Or do we fight?

I choose to fight. If that means getting an attorney and taking on the school, then so be it. If that means standing alone in a battle for justice, I will stand. Because if we don’t fight for our children, who will? If we allow fear of conflict to keep us silent, then we teach our children the worst lesson of all—that standing up for what is right comes at too great a cost.

Yes, there are risks. Fighting back means stepping into a battle against a system that often protects its own. It means facing backlash, criticism, and resistance. But what are the risks of doing nothing? Allowing this to happen sends a dangerous message—that bullies in positions of power can act without consequence. That standing up for others will get you punished. That silence is safer than truth.

Feel free to send an email to this school and support EVAN SANTINI-"[email protected]" <[email protected]>

That is unacceptable.

To every parent, every student, every coach who values integrity: We must stand together. We must demand accountability. Our children deserve mentors, not dictators. They deserve to play, to grow, and to learn in an environment where speaking up for others is a virtue, not a punishable offense.

This is not just about my son. This is about every kid who has ever been punished for standing up. This is about the future we shape for our children. I refuse to be silent. I refuse to let this go. And I hope you won’t either.

Because when we stand up, when we fight back, we don’t just change one outcome—we change the game entirely.

Feel free to send an email to this school and support EVAN SANTINI-"[email protected]" <[email protected]>