Rebel Retired!

Congrats to fellow workers for racial justice on achieving their goal! We’re excited to see this symbol of white supremacy go.

Press Release from Retiring the Rebel:

With a unanimous vote Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Jackson County Public School Board ruled to retire the Rebel mascot, logo and name from Cullowhee Valley Elementary School. The Rebel had been the mascot for various Cullowhee schools since the late 1950s.

Annie McCord Wilson—a Cullowhee Valley alumna, current parent and longtime advocate for an inclusive, representative mascot—noted the significance of the board’s decision. “I am so grateful to the board for making the right decision to discontinue the Rebel mascot,” McCord Wilson said. “Moving forward, we are hopeful that our community can unify and support the CVS students as they choose a new mascot.”

In addition to McCord Wilson, a coalition of fellow alumni and community members rekindled an effort to retire the Rebel. Over the past year, CVS graduates in Jackson County and across the country wrote letters to school board members, began fundraising efforts for new signage and renovations, and created education platforms in support of a new mascot.

On Tuesday, the school board specified in its decision that a new mascot would need to be installed by the 2021-22 school year and empowered the county’s superintendent and CVS's administration to create and facilitate a selection process.

Retiring The Rebel—a group created by CVS alum to organize change efforts—is committed to supporting the school and community during that process and beyond. Specifically, the group will partner with county residents and school supporters to raise funds for school upgrages, signage and other items.

To contribute to the fundraising effort, please visit Retiring The Rebel’s Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/retiring-the-rebel.

For more information about Cullowhee Valley’s history and ongoing efforts, please visit www.retiringtherebel.com.