Group Rallies for Birmingham Mascot

About 20 members of a committee calling itself “Save the Braves” held a rally across the street from Birmingham High School Friday to protest the Board of Education’s decision earlier this month banning references to American Indian names and images in public school mascots.

Frank Arrigo, a 1964 graduate of Birmingham and one of the leaders of Save the Braves, said the school’s use of the Brave, which is modeled after Chief Pontiac of the central Michigan Ottawa tribe, has always been intended with respect.

“The 30,000 graduates of Birmingham High School have always taken pride in that logo. We don’t understand why the school board wants to destroy a positive Indian image,” Arrigo said.

In addition to Birmingham’s Braves, the policy will require replacement mascots for the Mohicans of Gardena High School and the Warriors of University High and Wilmington Middle schools.

Native American groups and others who contend that the use of Indian names is demeaning applauded the board on Sept. 8 when it voted 6 to 0 to eliminate all references to American Indians in the names and images of school mascots.

But Arrigo, who said he has gathered 1,500 signatures from Brave supporters, argued that the change would harm school spirit and waste money that could be put to other uses.

Save the Braves has written to the board asking it to reconsider its decision. If it does not, Arrigo said, his group is considering organizing a recall effort or suing the board on 1st Amendment grounds.

Birmingham Principal Gerald Kleinman said his staff is trying to make the best of a difficult situation by using the controversy to explore American Indian and racial issues.

“The board makes the policy and we follow it. We are resigned to do that,” Kleinman said. “As long as we have to do it, we should try to make it the best possible learning experience for the students that we can.”