Keep the names

I read with interest the possibility of outlawing in Connecticut Indigenous American mascots. The piece claims it is unacceptable to permit images, names, symbols, artifacts and languages as caricatures, mascots and athletic rallying cries. I am the president of the Derby Football Club since 1996 and our mascot name is the Red Raiders. Our logo is an arrowhead and at times a capital D highlighted by a feather. As a former Derby High athlete in the late 1950s and over 50 years as an active Derby sports supporter, I have never heard anyone, anywhere say they were offended by our athletic name or logo. The NAACP have their agenda but should not interfere with anyone’s athletic names or logos.

In the Valley where I live, we have the Paugassett Hook and Ladder. In the early days when the fire department originated, the tribe was honored to be recognized. There is also the Housatonic River named after another tribe. These names were never intended to be racial. Why do some folks think it is? What are we supposed to do, change all the names? I say, mind your own business. I know for a fact Derby High School sports teams will always be known as the Red Raiders, in honor of the numerous American Indian tribes that settled here. It’s not right for the state to be pressured by these Indigenous American groups. In the seven decades that I have been alive, there were never any complaints about Connecticut high school and colleges that have American Indian logos and mascots, until the past few years. The state should ignore these groups and allow schools to continue their traditions.

Bill Pucci Derby