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Group meeting tonight about controversial "Rebel" mascot

UNION COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - A mascot at a high school in Union County is causing controversy among some people in the community.

The Parkwood High School "Rebel" is an image of a confederate solider.  Some people find it offensive and consider it racist.  They want school officials to change the mascot.

A community forum will be held Friday at 6:30 p.m. on the football field of Parkwood High School for those who want to keep the rebel name.  

The Union County Board of Education has been invited as well as all community leaders and citizens. 

"It is a form of intimidation and harassment," he said.  "They're wondering why at this time in our country, we would still honor this."

The mascot has been part of the school for nearly 50 years. The NAACP president and students say teenagers even wear images of the confederate flag on shirts while at the school.

"The school is only about 11 percent black," Hailey told WBTV.  "We all know what rebel and rebel flag means."

Parkwood High School students didn't recognize the mascot, but they did know they are called the Rebels.

"Other people see it as a racist term," said Taylor Shelton, a student at Parkwood High School.  

Randy Carter graduated from Parkwood High in 1983 and he remembers the mascot.

"As far as I know, [there's] nothing racial," Carter said.  "We never thought of it being that way."

The NAACP met with the superintendent and school principal earlier this week.  Their goal was to present a strong enough argument that a change will be made.

"I think it would be a good change for the school," Shelton said.  "It would make us seem less racist."

A NAACP spokesman says other high schools in the area with a Rebel mascot have already made changes in recent years. 

Monroe High School changed its mascot to the Redhawks and South Stanley High School changed its mascot to the Rebel Bulls.