Changes

In the weeks that followed, however, crosses were burned on many school board members' yards. One school board , with one member, who was black, was specifically targeted with a gunshot which went through his window. [[Teresa Hunt]], A human relations board 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 as well as a hoax, and when she returned her house state legislator also had been set ablaze.<ref>"Fire damages woman's home." ''Boca Raton News'', February 23, 1976their homes torched.</ref> State Representative [[R. W. Peaden]3]'s house was destroyed by arsonists on [[February 25]]. After all the retaliatory violence both at the school and in the community, members from the Florida National Guard was called in Highway Patrol and numerous local law enforcement agencies combined to patrol the school until the end of the year. While waiting for a final determination from the courts and the school board; the student body selected the nickname "Patriots" to be used at school sponsored events during the 1976–77 academic year. In the spring of 1977, after hearing the courts final decision that "Rebels" was not to be reinstated the students chose "Gators" as the permanent nickname. On July 13, 1977 the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) petitioned the Escambia County School Board to hold a meeting at Escambia High School. The Escambia High School Student Body president, John Davis, successfully argued against the petition before the board.[4] The board voted 5-1 against the petition.

In the fall of References:3. King, Wayne (1976-03-07). "Racial Animosity Turns to Violence in Pensacola, Fla., students chose the name on Issue of Calling High School Teams 'Rebels'"Gators" after a second ballot was deemed necessary. On [[New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-05. 4. Pensacola News Journal article dated July 26]]14, [[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 "GatorsBoard turns down Klan meeting plea" has been used for Escambia High's athletic teams since, without incident.by Journal Staff writer Marry Barrineau