Connecticut High School Retires Controversial 'Redmen' Mascot

A Connecticut high school has ended the controversy surrounding its controversial mascot, with officials announcing this week that the school will retire its "Redmen" mascot. 

In February Killingly High School formed commission to examine the Redmen mascot, which has been in place for decades. Students, community members and local tribes had raised concerns that the Redmen mascot, which features a Native American wearing a headdress, wasn't a respectful representation of local Native people. 

According to WTNH, the move comes after the school briefly changed the mascot to the Red Hawks a few years ago. However, a shift in the school board and a majority Republican board of education eventually changed the mascot back to the Redmen. 

Changing the mascot back to the Redmen resulted in a lack of financial support from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, which pulled $94,000 from a state fund that those groups pay into. 

“You have completely diverse perspectives of one group saying, well, this is a great way to honor the Indians who were before us, and another group saying, oh, this is dishonoring,” said Laurin Mooney, grandmother.

In 2023, a new election saw the school board shift Democratic and the board formed the committee to look into the issue, eventually decided to do away with the Redmen and Redgal mascots. 

The committee is now exploring new options for a Killingly mascot, and the Redmen and Redgals mascot retirement will take place at the Powder Puff football game on Nov. 26. and vintage football jerseys will be available for sale.