Please help in removing Harrison High School’s use of a Native mascot and the name “Warriors.” Evansville resides on land once occupied by the Kickapoo, Kaskaskia, Osage, Shawnee, Myaamia, and Quapaw peoples. This caricature of a mascot does not represent any peoples and has no ties to Evansville history, it is simply an insensitive and offensive caricature. 

Native mascots are harmful towards all students, Native and non-Native alike. Turning a racial minority into a mascot is not only incredibly dehumanizing, but perpetuates stereotypes and has been shown to psychologically damage Native students. At the same time, non-Native students' prejudices are deeply impacted by being around and interacting with Native mascots. The EVSC has taken a pledge to foster “supportive, academically challenging, culturally inclusive, and equitable learning environments” in their 2020 Community Equity Letter, and yet, they have done nothing to address the racist nature of Harrison’s mascot. 

In addition to your show of support, I have sent out formal emails to the Harrison administration, the EVSC School Board, the superintendent, and the chief diversity officer, asking them to make a pledge that they will remove the mascot. Please note, that while a pledge is a step in the right direction, this issue will not be fully solved until the mascot has been removed and replaced. 

You don’t have to be a Harrison student or the parent of one to care. Racism is a community issue.

Thank you.

If you have sentiments towards the mascot you would like to express in a show of support for this cause, please send them to makenoizegetheard@gmail.com.