Capacity Crowd Turns Out For Vestavia Mascot Forum
An emotional issue across the South and the nation came to a head in Vestavia Hills last night — the debate over symbols related to the Confederacy. The school board held a public forum, partly spurred by residents who want the system to drop its “Rebel” mascot. Listen above or read below. Under the text, you can access audio of the entire meeting. To learn more and listen to analysis by Carsen and WBHM News Director Rachel Lindley, click here.
People gathered in the heat outside the Board of Education building hours before the 6 p.m. school board work session. One of them was Vestavia High graduate and parent Laurie Webster, a rebel mascot supporter:
“All we want is for the students to be respected enough to make the decision themselves,” she says, adding that Vestavia High School students, whom she calls intelligent and “well-versed,” should have the chance to vote on the matter.
“Respect the students” was a familiar refrain — many pro-mascot speakers ended their comments with those words. They also spoke of traditions, and said the mascot was not intended to be racist and isn’t seen that way now.
But speakers on the other side contradicted that, and added that some people — especially students — have kept quiet because they fear retribution.
Lisa Borden, the mother of two high-schoolers, says, “Both of my girls would very much like to have the Rebel mascot replaced. They’ve always been uncomfortable with it. And I certainly feel the same way. I just feel that you can’t divorce Colonel Reb from his history. You just can’t paint over that and pretend it’s not the case.”
Students, parents, and local leaders spoke for more than two hours addressing the crowd of almost two hundred after dozens had to be turned away. The Board plans to decide whether to keep the mascot by the end of the month.
Click below for the entire meeting:
Chilean Smiljan Radić Clarke wins architecture’s highest honor
The Pritzker Prize was awarded Thursday. "In every work, he is able to answer with radical originality, making the unobvious obvious," said fellow Chilean architect and prize chair Alejandro Aravena.
El Niño is set to take hold this summer, driving up global temperatures
A potentially strong El Niño weather pattern will likely emerge this summer and persist through the rest of the year. The hottest years on record generally occur in years when El Niño is active.
‘Songs from the Hole’: The story behind JJ’88’s documentary and visual album
The visual album and documentary Songs from the Hole tells the story of James Jacobs, the hip-hop artist JJ'88, as he reflects on his coming-of-age within California's state prison system.
Oil price surges as Iran steps up attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf
Markets seesawed on Day 13 of the war in the Middle East, as two oil tankers were struck by projectiles near Iraq's southern ports and attacks between Israel and Hezbollah intensified.
Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them
Utilities are convincing lawmakers around the U.S. to delay bills that would allow people to buy solar panels, plug them into an outlet and begin generating electricity.
Trump’s war with Iran is angering some swing voters who want money spent at home
Swing voters who helped reelect President Trump in 2024 don't support his decision to go to war in Iran and instead want to see U.S. tax dollars spent tackling economic pressures facing Americans.
