Some Democratic state lawmakers have introduced a resolution to urge schools in Ohio that have Native American mascots to retire them. This is not a bill that would require districts to do that but the Democratic lawmakers sponsoring it, who are in the minority in state government, hope the resolution will spark a conversation about it.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association says there are 79 high schools with mascots referred to as Indians, Redmen, Braves, Mohawks, Raiders, and other like terms. Rep Adam Miller (D-Columbus) says it is time for those schools to retire those mascots.
“We are hoping this resolution forces a consideration of an issue that has been quietly brewing for a long, long time," Miller says.
Miller is calling on state and local communities to help schools to make those changes, especially now, when one of Ohio's Major League Baseball teams has chosen to do that.
The Cleveland Indians will be known as the Guardians next season, after recently changing their name. In recent years, they had been previously moving away from using their former controversial mascot, Chief Wahoo. But not everyone is on board with the changes. Many fans have lambasted the team's decision on social media.
