Raptors, Rattlers or Royals? Richland students can have a say in name of new mascot
Raptors, Rattlers or Royals?
Come July 23, Richland High School will have a new mascot, replacing the Rebels name that it’s had for 60 years.
The high school Twitter page posted a link on Tuesday with the three options. Only the current student body can vote..
The Birdville Independent School District will make its decision for Richland’s new mascot during its next school board meeting on Thursday, July 23.
According to the district, “The change will be immediate.”
In June, the BISD board of trustees unanimously voted to remove the Rebel mascot and related Confederate imagery.
The vote came after more than 25,000 people signed a petition calling for the removal of the Confederate symbols at the school including a Richland Rebel flag reminiscent of the Stars and Bars, the dance team name Dixie Belles and the spirit team name Johnny Reb. The decision also came during the hundreds of protests across the country for the Black Lives Matter movement.
On June 8, students, alumni and administrators protested at the high school and BISD administration building with one protest flier saying “take down the racist brand at Richland.”
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 2:02 PM.
