Have Your Say on the West Hartford Debate of High Schools' Indian Mascots

Anyone wishing to weigh in on the long-running debate over whether West Hartford’s high schools should continue to use Indian mascots for their sports teams will have the opportunity to do so at an upcoming community forum.

The Hartford Courant reports that the forum will be held Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium. The forum is open to anyone who wishes to attend and people will be given 3 minutes to speak.

• Related: Dueling Online Petitions Battle Over North Haven High School Indian Mascot

Board of Education Chairman Mark Overmyer-Velazquez told the Courant that some residents, particularly alumni of the high schools, feel a strong affinity for the traditions of the Hall Warriors and the Conard Chieftains while others view it as outdated and offensive.

Overmyer-Velazquez also said that the forum will go until everyone has their say on the topic and the next step will be for the school board to deliberate and consider new policies, which he said could include a range of options from retiring the mascots to doing nothing.

Read the full story at the Hartford Courant here.

For the readers: Should the schools change the Indian mascots? Let us know in the comments below:

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