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The '''==Background & early violence==[[Image:EscambiaHighRebelFlag.jpg|thumb|right|White Escambia High School riots''' were racially motivated nonviolent and violent demonstrations which occurred in varying forms between students carry a [[1972Confederate flag]]]] and [[1977Escambia High School]] at the then, formerly an all-newly white school, was forcibly desegregated in [[Escambia High School1969]]. The centerpiece riotIn the fall of 1972, black students rioted at a home football game for their team, whose mascot was a "Rebel, which received " modelled in appearance after the most publicity and was [[Wikipedia:Colonel Reb|Colonel Reb]] of the most violent demonstration, occurred on [[February 5Wikipedia:University of Mississippi|University of Mississippi]]. The school band played the official school song, "[[1976Wikipedia: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>

==History==Escambia High School, formerly an all-white school, was forcibly desegregated in [[1969]]. In Continuing until the fall end of 1972the 1972–73 academic year, black blacks and other students rioted at a home football game for their team, whose protested the mascot was a "Rebel," modelled in appearance after school song and use of the [[Wikipedia:Colonel RebConfederate Flag|Colonel RebConfederate Flag]] of , 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]], [[Wikipedia:University of Mississippi|University of Mississippi1973]]. The school band played , a United States District Court ruling deemed all of the aforementioned symbols as "racially irritating" and barred their use at the official school song, "level (''[[Wikipedia:Dixie (song)Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County|DixieAugustus v. School Board of Escambia County]]'', 361 F. Supp. 383," and it was from there that the violence ensued1973).<ref>[http://wwwselect.sptimesnytimes.com/2005gst/01/23/State/A_dubious_demiseabstract.html?res=F40915F9345812718DDDAE0894DB405B868BF1D3 "Racial Animosity Turns to Violence in Pensacola, Fla., on Issue of Calling High School Teams 'Rebels.shtml'"]''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.

Continuing until the end of the 1972–73 academic year, blacks and other students protested the mascotThroughout 1974, school song and use of the [[Wikipedia:Confederate Flag|Confederate FlagEscambia County School District]]appealed the decision, 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 24January 25]], [[19731975]], a the United States District Court ruling deemed all of Appeals ruled in favor of the aforementioned symbols as "racially irritating" school board, overturning the injunction and barred their use at decreeing that the school level (board should be in charge of the matter.<ref>''[[Wikipedia:Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County|Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County]]'', 361 507 F. Supp. 3832d 152, 1973).<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40915F9345812718DDDAE0894DB405B868BF1D3]1975</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 ==Election & main riot==[[Escambia County School DistrictImage:EscambiaHighRiot2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Non-student Raymond Lindsay is arrested for aggravated assaulted]] appealed the decision, and on On [[January 25February 4]], [[19751976]], an impromptu school election was held in which students were allowed to vote to either keep the United States Court of Appeals ruled in favor of name as "Raiders" or change the school board, overturning name back to "Rebels." The students who preferred "Rebels" failed to secure a [[Wikipedia:supermajority|supermajority]] needed to win the injunction and decreeing that ballot. White students complained the school board should be vote was "unfair" because there had not been enough advance notice. The vote was held on senior skip day, resulting in charge a large number of students being absent from school that day for the matter (''Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County'', 507 F.2d 152, 1975)vote.

On [[February 4]]The next day, [[1976]], an impromptu school election was held in which hundreds of white students were allowed to vote to either keep gathered outside the name as "Raiders" or change the name back school and attempted to "Rebels." The students who preferred "Rebels" failed to secure hoist a [[Wikipedia:supermajority|supermajorityConfederate flag]] needed to win the ballot, and the next day, a riot ensued over four hours in on the school dayflagpole.<ref name="schoolboard">[http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/richard.robbins/Belief/chapter_two.htm]</ref> Four After black students were shot in the violence and twenty-six students were injured by rocks and debris while school lobby saw the calamity involved students smashing windows and trophy casesdisplay, as well as fighting with other students. It was estimated that three-quarters of the 2,523 students who attended Escambia High were involved in the a rioterupted. In the aftermathensuing violence, crosses which lasted for four hours, around 30 students 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. After all the retaliatory violence both at the school injured and in the communityfour were shot, the Florida National Guard was called in to patrol the school until the end of the yearincluding football team quarterback [[Keith Hughes]].

In 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 fall building's north wing. Principal [[Chris Banakas]] estimated that three-quarters of 1976the 2, 523 students chose 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. "GatorsEscambia High Closed After 30 Hurt in Nickname Melee." after a second ballot was deemed necessary''Pensacola Journal'', February 6, 1976. On </ref> Several non-student adults were arrested at the scene by [[July 26Escambia 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 [[1977R. 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, the you're liable to not get any help at all."<ref name="closed"/> [[Escambia County Superintendent]] [[Wikipedia:Ku Klux Klan|Ku Klux KlanJ. E. Hall]] held 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 rally on white youth was found loitering near the school grounds with regards to a length of chain, but no incidents of violence occurred. ==Aftermath==In the issueweeks that followed, crosses were burned on many school board members' yards, with one member, who was black, specifically targeted with a gunshot which necessitated went through his window. A human relations board member as well as a reorganization 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 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. The name In the spring of 1977, after hearing the courts final decision that "Rebels" was not to be reinstated the students chose "Gators" has been used for 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'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]]