Killingly High School in Killingly, Connecticut called themselves the R*dmen and the R*dgals for over 80 years. These terms are disparaging and offensive. In recent years (2014, 2013), the opposition of the mascot name started to make some headway and get some press. In 2019, a few brave, passionate students brought the issue to the Board of Education which set the process of a mascot change in motion. The students ran a poll and 59% of the students and 42% of teachers and staff wanted to keep the name. After a contentious town hall meeting, the Board passed a resolution to change the mascot if local tribes requested to (they already had). So, the mascot was finally changed. A poll was held shortly after to decide the next mascot and 80% of the students chose Red Hawks. The school's mascot was officially the Red Hawks, for one season of sports at least.
In November of 2019, Republicans (including Jason Muscara, former VP of the CT American Guard, who announced his candidacy at that mascot name town hall meeting) won a super-majority on the Town Council and the Board of Education, running essentially a one-issue campaign--the mascot. They plan to change the high school's mascot back.
In December the Republicans on the Board stayed true to their campaign promise and held another town hall meeting and invited Mark Onewolf of NAGA to speak in favor of reverting back to the R*dmen mascot. After hearing from teachers, staff, community members and Mark Onewolf, the Board then voted to nix the Redhawks mascot. But the vote to reinstate R*dmen tied. The school officially had no mascot/name for the state championship football game.
In January 2020, the Board voted to reinstate R*dmen. The Mashantucket Pequot tribal leadership released (another) statement: "Although we appreciate the Board of Education's decision to establish a subcommittee to develop a Native American centered curriculum, we're disappointed in their vote to reinstate the offensive Redmen mascot. We support the sentiments shared by members of our Youth Council at yesterday's hearing, and believe the mascot doesn't honor or represent Native people and has no place in our school system. We urge the Board to rethink their decision."
In November of 2022, Killingly High lost out on $94,184 in funding from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund because of the mascot, as determined by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management.
At the BOE meeting on 2/28/24, the Adhoc Committee to Discuss School Mascot was formed. On 6/3/24 the committee voted unanimously to reccommend retiring the mascot to the BOE and approved a draft of a letter to the CT State Office of Policy and Management to inform them about the intent to change the name. The deadline for towns to apply for and receive the next round of $94,184 in funds from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund is June 30th. A letter from KHS's Athletic Department in favor of the name change was read aloud at the meeting, and was signed by 14 head coaches. In it, coaches described how students don't feel proud about the mascot, and that other schools mock them about it.
On this site you'll find writing from both local and non-local North American Native Americans, op-eds from KHS alumni, a brief history of other schools that have moved on from their racist mascots, and some fun alternative names. Email hi@killinglyr*dmen.com with suggestions or tips.
KILLINGLY HIGH'S MASCOT
A BRIEF HISTORY
