Dear Retire the Red Raider supporters,

At the April 2021 North Carolina State Board of Education Meeting, the NC State Advisory Council on American Indian Education (SACIE) recommended that all districts review and implement local policies related to the selection of mascots given the known detrimental effects of American Indian mascots. They also reference the state board’s equity resolution, which this recommendation aligns with. In follow-up comments, State Board of Education members expressed support for this recommendation and indicated that the state board should prioritize this recommendation for action (video here).

Will you take five minutes to email the NC State Board of Education and ask them to follow up by taking action on the South Point Red Raider? Click HERE to send an email.

SACIE's recommendations and the board's comments provide clear guidance to Gaston County Schools about Native American mascots and place the responsibility for mascots squarely with districts and school boards, not individual school communities. Yet Gaston County Schools and the Gaston County Board of Education continue to ignore state guidance and calls from students, alumni, Native American groups, and community members to retire the Red Raider.

Please help increase the pressure on Gaston County Schools to do the right thing by asking the State Board to get involved. The more emails we send, the harder it is for our movement to be ignored.

Thank you for your continued support and perseverance as we continue our fight.

In solidarity,
Retire the Red Raider