The Mount Diablo Unified School District Governing Board voted 4-1 to strip Concord High School of its long-standing mascot the “Minutemen.”
Concord, was named after Concord, Mass., the site of the famous Battles of Lexington and Concord during the America Revolutionary War. The high school is tossing the mascot named after the historic “Minutemen” who fought against the British in favor of the “Bears.”
“It’s disgusting to disrespect those who fought and sacrificed to defeat tyranny and ultimately found our great nation, and to add insult to injury, they’re replacing it with a meaningless and trite mascot that viciously murders small animals,” reacted Matt Shupe, the Republican Party chairman of the Contra Costa County where the school is located.
According to NBC Bay Area, the district has one year to implement the mascot change which is estimated to cost roughly $200,000.
NBC Bay Area reported that the discussion to change the mascot began a year ago after the school district decided to “replace its human mascots with non-human mascots,” which led to a student committee being formed tasked to find a new name.
The committee reportedly “expressed concerns” about the mascot “showcasing a firearm,” others wanted a name that was gender inclusive.