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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>