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==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>
==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 vote was held on senior skip day, resulting in a large number of students being absent from school that day for the vote.
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]].
==Aftermath==
In the weeks that followed, however, crosses were burned on many school board members' yards, with one member, who was black, specifically targeted with a gunshot which went through his window. A human relations board member as well as a state legislator also had their homes torched. [5] 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 fall spring of 19761977, after hearing the courts final decision that "Rebels" was not to be reinstated the students chose the name "Gators" after a second ballot was deemed necessaryas the permanent nickname. On [[July 26]]13, [[1977]], the [[Wikipedia:Ku Klux Klan|Ku Klux Klan]] held a rally on (KKK) petitioned the school grounds with regards Escambia County School Board to the issue, which necessitated hold a reorganization of the school boardmeeting at Escambia High School. The name "Gators" has been used for Escambia High's athletic teams sinceSchool Student Body president, John Davis, without incidentsuccessfully argued against the petition before the board.[6] The board voted 5-1 against the petition.
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Link title]]5. King, Wayne (1976-03-07). "Racial Animosity Turns to Violence in Pensacola, Fla., on Issue of Calling High School Teams 'Rebels'". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
[[Link title]]6. Pensacola News Journal article dated July 14, 1977. "Board turns down Klan meeting plea" by Journal Staff writer Marry Barrineau
[[Category:Demonstrations & unrest]] [[Category:Race relations]] [[Category:Escambia County School District]]
