Oklahoma high school students protest ‘Redskins’ name change

The Washington Redskins aren’t alone in their controversy over the name.

Students at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City refused to attend classes on Wednesday to protest the city school board’s unanimous decision to oust their mascot.

The high school’s sports teams have been the Redskins since the 1920s, but mounting pressure from critics who find the term offensive prompted the board to make the change this week.

Student protesters told KOCO-TV that they did not even know the issue was up for a vote and were frustrated that their view on the matter was not taken into account.

“I’m upset because we didn’t get asked. This has been our mascot for a very long time,” freshman Ivy Fox said.

Native American groups and others argue that the term “redskins” is pejorative and oppose sports mascots based on ethnicity on principle.

Cedric Sunray, a teacher at Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School, called on the board to oppose the mascot after a former Capitol Hill student spoke out against it, The Oklahoman reported.

That student told Centennial’s American Indian Organization, which represents 32 students and 15 tribes, that he did not like “imagery” of the mascot at the school, according to the paper.

The teens at the protest, on the other hand, say that words have different meanings for different people — for their school, it’s all about pride and tradition.

“It means more than that. It means pride,” freshman Jada Adams said. “We’re proud of our red skin instead of what it used to mean because we give our words different meanings all the time.”

Tierney Tinnin, spokeswoman for the school district, released a statement saying the administration is proud of the students and supports their decision to protest.

“This is an emotional issue for everyone involved and requires heartfelt and open conversations moving forward,” she said.

The mascot will be phased out slowly, as current students, alumni and other members of the community think of another.

The district’s Native American Student Services Department will provide the community and student body with additional information on the history of the controversial term, according to the statement.

"Our goal," Tinnin said, "is to be supportive of our students and respectful to the community during the process."