BRAINTREE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — An online petition is urging Braintree High School to change their mascot from the Wamps.
The petition, which has more than 3,400 signatures, says that the "use of a Native American chief as a mascot is extremely distasteful."
"Every year, students dress up in feathered costumes and face paint, running through the halls replicating 'Native American chants,'" the petition said. "These racist practices are unacceptable, yet continue to be allowed and encouraged by the use of the mascot."
The school committee said they received the petition a few weeks back.
Meanwhie, another petition is calling on the school to keep the mascot. That petition about 1,000 signatures. It says that students and athletes "take pride" in the mascot, and "do not intend to be racist and disrespectful."
The school committee is also set to review that petition.
Braintree is not the only town reconsidering their mascot. Earlier this month, the Walpole School Committee voted to get ride of their mascot, named the "Rebels."
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports
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(Photo: Chris Fama/WBZ NewsRadio)