Over the past few months, the United States has gone through a major cultural change. The death of George Floyd reignited the Black Lives Matter movement, and through peaceful protests and millions signing petitions the four officers involved in Floyd’s murder have now been arrested and charged with murder or aiding and abetting a murder. The movement hasn’t stopped there. Across the country symbols of hate, oppression, and division have been taken down. The United States Marine Corps has banned any personnel from flying the Confederate flag, and Mississippi’s state legislature has passed and the governor has signed an order to remove the Confederate symbol from the state flag.

The Ritchie County High School mascot known as the Rebel wasn’t intentionally created to represent hatred of another race. However, over the past few decades the mascot has been associated with the Confederate Rebel. The depiction of the mascot itself throughout the community and in the high school resembles that of the Confederate soldier. Even into the 2000’s the Confederate flag was flown during football games at Chuck Scofield Memorial Stadium. The Rebel doesn’t promote an inclusive learning environment to the students of RCHS.

We propose that the Ritchie County Board of Education changes the school name and mascot from the Rebel to a figure that better represents the Ritchie County community.

Let’s set the trend in West Virginia to be more inclusive in our public schools.

Sign our petition to help make the change. Please share on your social media to help spread the word.