Since its establishment in Franklin, Tennessee in 1910, Franklin High School's "Rebels" mascot has served as a nod to our city's racist past.

Rebels, who fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy, represent the South's fight for the "right" to buy, sell, and own Black people, to exploit them, and to deny them their humanity.

By allowing the Rebels tradition to continue, Williamson County Schools is choosing to ignore the painful ties of the Rebel name and symbol and their impact on Black students, Black families, and other members of the Franklin community who acknowledge our city's racist past. In a county that is majority white, it is the responsibility of white people to speak up against symbols of hatred, intolerance, and oppression.

Please consider that maintaining tradition is a poor excuse for not working to ensure that all students feel safe and welcome at Franklin High School. 

We're demanding that the Williamson County School Board take steps to change Franklin High School's mascot immediately. Though doing so will not make up for the wrongs of the past, it is a step toward justice for all Black lives and a sign of solidarity, showing that Williamson County Schools support equal justice for all Black students and families.