Do mascots matter? Might an outmoded avatar cause harm to America’s most marginal? The answer is affirmative, according to Illinois lawmakers.
Freeburg Community High has proclaimed the same nickname for 90 years. But State Rep. Maurice West wants to wash the school’s mouth out with soap. The Rockford Democrat believes House Bill 3527 — AKA the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act — will benefit brains:
“It is an important piece of legislation…for sake of the mental health of our community.”
Maurice has teamed with Mascots Matter, which aims to 86 the moniker “Midgets” from five U.S. high schools. At a March press conference with the coalition, he slapped slurs:
“We need to ensure all schools…show empathy and compassion in addressing the problematic names of certain mascots. … [H]olding on to sport nicknames considered to be a slur…
