Both Lee-Davis High School’s name and mascot, The Confederates, are a blatant glorification of discrimination and racism.  People of color must endure racial harassment for years as they are forced to cheer for their fellow “Confederates” in all school activities.  Student-athletes must wear the names of the two most recognizable figures that fought and rebelled against this country to keep Black lives in chains.  When students go to pep rallies and sporting events, they see the sidelines and find a mascot dressed up as a Confederate soldier being paraded around and celebrated.  Students of Lee-Davis are required to support the symbolism and images of the white supremacist movement today. 

Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis have no immediate relation to the county.  The high school was built in the middle of the civil rights movement and named after these two figures as a sign of intimidation as they were determined to make this school strictly for white people.  Lee-Davis High School took ten years to meet the federal integration system as they continued to fight for segregation.  The county named this high school with the intention that African Americans were not welcome and with their refusal to change the name, their intention is the same as it was over 60 years ago. 

Hanover County Public School Board has continually voted to keep the name and mascot, which shows they believe both the name and mascot are not racist. In addition, it shows that they support a false version of history where the Civil War and the Confederacy were about states’ rights and not just about slavery.  Jefferson Davis said, “African slavery, as it exists in the United States, is a moral, a social, and a political blessing.”  How long can the public-school system honor and glorify a figure who argued and fought for this belief?

This week we have seen the Robert E. Lee statue being removed in Richmond and we ask to keep this momentum going.  Removing the names of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis will be a step in the right direction if Hanover County truly opposes systemic racism in today’s world.  We are eagerly seeking outside support to help the people within this community. Even though you or your family might not have gone to this school, you can still help amplify the voices of people of color who have been silenced in both this county and this nation for far too long.  People of color should never have to go to a school that prides itself on the tradition of discrimination.  The current and future students of this school deserve to go to a place where they can truly be proud of what they are representing in the classroom, sporting events, and other school activities.  Now is the time to replace racist symbols of inequality and oppression with symbols of hope for a brighter future that represents every person of Hanover county, and this nation.