Petition To Change Council Rock North's Mascot Gains Steam

NEWTOWN, PA — An online petition to change Council Rock North's mascot from an Indian is gaining steam.

As of Friday afternoon, 565 people have signed the Change.org petition. That put the petition over its initial goal of 500. The goal has now been increased to 1,000 signatures.

This petition calls for the Council Rock School Board to initiate a vote to see if the students want to keep or change the mascot from an Indian. Petition organizers say they plan to deliver it to Superintendent Robert Fraser, the Council Rock school board, and North's school principal, Susan McCarthy.

The petition says the mascot is racist and perpetuates negative stereotypes of Native Americans.

The text of the petition reads in part as follows:

Dressing up as an Indian furthers negative stereotypes of Native Americans and cannot be tolerated. And tomahawk chops and war cries by fans and marching bands are racist as well. If we can't dress up or act for school spirit then why have the mascot at all? If we had an animal or object for a mascot, then all students and members of the community would be able to use our mascot's imagery to create school pride.

Several supporters left comments on the online petition. Many said they were proud of the students for taking a stand.

"As a former student of the Council Rock District, I would love to see Native people respected by our public education system starting with the removal of degrading caricatures serving programs and institutions that have nothing to do with upholding and cherishing indigenous history. This mascot only perpetuates a long history of mistreatment of Native Americans. Native people deserve better," one supporter wrote.

Another said: "I'm sick and tired of the excuses defending racism in America. Racism is ripping America apart, enough is enough."

The petition resulted in some controversial social media posts between students just before the start of the new school year.

An Instagram social media account, CRNMascot2, posted an offensive photo of a Ku Klux Klan member, suggesting that should be the school's new mascot.

The account, which has since been deleted or made private and is no longer available for public viewing, also posted other "suggestions" for mascots, including an image of a Hispanic person with the text "Council Rock Tacos" underneath, and an image of an African American person with a gun saying "Council Rock criminals."