“Native Americans who strongly identify with being Native American and engage in tribal cultural practices are deeply insulted if called “Redskin”. “Redskin” is equivalent to the “N” word. “Redskin” is a slur and an inappropriate way to describe Native Americans. It may not be mean to tell someone their skin is reddish.  But it is mean to call someone a “Redskin”. There is a difference…”

-From the Roanoke-Hatteras Council, Algonquian Indians of NC, Inc., June 2020

It’s time for St. Johns High School to  their mascot. 

The school is located in St. Johns, Az. St. Johns High School's mascots, the “Redskins” is part of a tradition of Native objectification and stereotyping in sports. Native mascots have been statistically proven to harm contemporary Native American people’s mental health, especially that of children.

[1]

Native Americans are real living people today. 

[2]

No one deserves to see their heritage insulted, ridiculed, or represented by someone else, yet Native Americans have been mocked and dehumanized by slurs and images in team mascots at every level, from elementary schools to professional leagues. It has a clear history as a racial slur, as one of the meanings referred to the literal human skinning of slaughtered Native people to receive payment from the state government.

[3]

As part of state-sanctioned eradication of the Native population. The use of Native mascots contributes to the elimination of real historical and racial dialogue and one of contemporary Native Americans’ greatest struggles, the issue of visibility.

The use of these mascots is deeply harmful to the cause of creating sustainable and positive race relations. The mascots desensitize students to racism and sends a message to students and community members that it is permissible and fun.

Changing these mascots is a small but symbolic step towards dismantling racist structures and building dialogue and accountability. Let's be part of that change. Please sign and share this petition. 

THERE’S NO PRIDE IN GENOCIDE