Editing Escambia High School riots

[[Image:EscambiaHighRiot1.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Students at Escambia High School flee from a tear gas cannister]]
The '''Escambia High School riots''' were racially motivated nonviolent and violent demonstrations which occurred in varying forms between [[1972]] and [[1977]] at the then-newly [[Segregation|desegregated]] [[Escambia High School]]. The centerpiece riot, which received the most publicity and was the most violent demonstration, occurred on [[February 5]], [[1976]].

==Background & early violence==
[[Image:EscambiaHighRebelFlag.jpg|thumb|right|White Escambia High students carry a [[Confederate flag]]]]
[[Escambia High School]], formerly an all-white school, was forcibly desegregated in [[1969]]. In the fall of 1972, black students rioted at a home football game for their team, whose mascot was a "Rebel," modelled in appearance after the [[Wikipedia:Colonel Reb|Colonel Reb]] of the [[Wikipedia:University of Mississippi|University of Mississippi]]. The school band played the official school song, "[[Wikipedia:Dixie (song)|Dixie]]," and it was from there that the violence ensued.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/23/State/A_dubious_demise.shtml "State: A dubious demise."] ''St. Petersburg Times'', January 23, 2005.</ref>

Continuing until the end of the 1972–73 academic year, blacks and other students protested the mascot, school song and use of the [[Wikipedia:Confederate Flag|Confederate Flag]], which was flown at school events and games, on the grounds that the imagery the items brought up were insensitive to black people. On [[July 24]], [[1973]], a United States District Court ruling deemed all of the aforementioned symbols as "racially irritating" and barred their use at the school level (''[[Wikipedia:Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County|Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County]]'', 361 F. Supp. 383, 1973).<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40915F9345812718DDDAE0894DB405B868BF1D3 "Racial Animosity Turns to Violence in Pensacola, Fla., on Issue of Calling High School Teams 'Rebels.'"] ''New York Times'', March 7, 1976.</ref> At the beginning of the next school year, the name "Raiders" was picked to be the new name for all of Escambia High's athletic teams.

Throughout 1974, the [[Escambia County School District]] appealed the decision, and on [[January 25]], [[1975]], the United States Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the school board, overturning the injunction and decreeing that the school board should be in charge of the matter.<ref>''Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County'', 507 F.2d 152, 1975</ref>

==Election & main riot==
[[Image:EscambiaHighRiot2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Non-student Raymond Lindsay is arrested for aggravated assaulted]]
On [[February 4]], [[1976]], an impromptu school election was held in which students were allowed to vote to either keep the name as "Raiders" or change the name back to "Rebels." The students who preferred "Rebels" failed to secure a [[Wikipedia:supermajority|supermajority]] needed to win the ballot. White students complained the vote was "unfair" because there had not been enough advance notice.

The next day, hundreds of white students gathered outside the school and attempted to hoist a [[Confederate flag]] on the flagpole. After black students in the school lobby saw the display, a riot erupted. In the ensuing violence, which lasted for four hours, around 30 students were injured and four were shot, including football team quarterback [[Keith Hughes]].

The school suffered extensive damage from the event, with nearly a hundred windows smashed, as well as trophy cases, clocks, water fountains and a water pipe that flooded the building's north wing. Principal [[Chris Banakas]] estimated that three-quarters of the 2,523 students who attended Escambia High were involved in the riot. "We ended up with a bunch of whites outside throwing rocks and breaking windows, and a bunch of blacks inside breaking windows," he said.<ref name="closed">Mary Barrineau. "Escambia High Closed After 30 Hurt in Nickname Melee." ''Pensacola Journal'', February 6, 1976.</ref>

Several non-student adults were arrested at the scene by [[Escambia County Sheriff's Office|Escambia Sheriff's deputies]]. One 18-year-old student and three juveniles were also arrested, and 17 others detained. Many of the students involved later faced disciplinary actions.

State Representative [[R. W. "Smokey" Peaden]] arrived at the school during the riot and promised the white students he would demand a new vote on the nickname. "If you want our help, act as adults," he said. "If you act as you've acted this morning, you're liable to not get any help at all."<ref name="closed"/> [[Escambia County Superintendent]] [[J. E. Hall]] cancelled Friday's classes at the school.

The next week, attendance at the school dropped dramatically, especially among black students. There were reports of white students jeering at blacks on the nearly empty buses, and a white youth was found loitering near the school with a length of chain, but no incidents of violence occurred.

==Aftermath==
In the weeks that followed, however, crosses were burned on many school board members' yards. One school board member, who was black, was specifically targeted with a gunshot which went through his window. [[Teresa Hunt]], member of the [[Pensacola-Escambia Human Relations Committee]] and the school board's [[Citizens Advisory Committee]], was called by telephone to a special meeting on [[February 21]], which turned out to be a hoax, and when she returned her house had been set ablaze.<ref>"Fire damages woman's home." ''Boca Raton News'', February 23, 1976.</ref> Likewise for a state legislator. After all the retaliatory violence both at the school and in the community, the Florida National Guard was called in to patrol the school until the end of the year.

In the fall of 1976, students chose the name "Gators" after a second ballot was deemed necessary. On [[July 26]], [[1977]], the [[Ku Klux Klan]] held a rally on the school grounds with regards to the issue, which necessitated a reorganization of the school board. The name "Gators" has been used for Escambia High's athletic teams since, without incident.

==References==
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[[Category:Demonstrations & unrest]] [[Category:Race relations]] [[Category:Escambia County School District]]