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The '''==Background==[[Escambia High School riots''' were racially motivated nonviolent and violent demonstrations which occurred ]], formerly an all-white school, was forcibly desegregated in varying forms between [[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]] and of the [[1977Wikipedia:University of Mississippi|University of Mississippi]] at . The school band played the then-newly desegregated official school song, "[[Escambia High SchoolWikipedia:Dixie (song)|Dixie]]," and it was from there that the violence ensued. The centerpiece riot<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/23/State/A_dubious_demise.shtml "State: A dubious demise."] ''St. Petersburg Times'', January 23, 2005.</ref> Continuing until the end of the 1972–73 academic year, which received blacks and other students protested the most publicity mascot, school song and use of the [[Wikipedia:Confederate Flag|Confederate Flag]], which was the most violent demonstrationflown at school events and games, occurred on the grounds that the imagery the items brought up were insensitive to black people. On [[February 5July 24]], [[19761973]], a United States District Court ruling deemed all of the aforementioned symbols as "racially irritating" and barred their use at the school level (''[[Wikipedia:Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County|Augustus v. School Board of Escambia County]]'', 361 F. Supp. 383, 1973).<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40915F9345812718DDDAE0894DB405B868BF1D3 "Racial Animosity Turns to Violence in Pensacola, Fla., on Issue of Calling High School Teams 'Rebels.'"]''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.

==History==Throughout 1974, the [[Escambia High County SchoolDistrict]] appealed the decision, formerly an all-white school, was forcibly desegregated in and on [[1969January 25]]. 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 Reb1975]] of , the [[Wikipedia:University United States Court of Mississippi|University Appeals ruled in favor of Mississippi]]. The school band played the official school songboard, "[[Wikipedia:Dixie (song)|Dixie]]," overturning the injunction and it was from there decreeing that the violence ensuedschool board should be in charge of the matter.<ref>[http://www''Augustus v.sptimesSchool Board of Escambia County'', 507 F.com/2005/01/23/State/A_dubious_demise.shtml]2d 152, 1975</ref>

Continuing until the end of the 1972–73 academic year, blacks ==Election and other students protested the mascot, school song and use of the riot==[[WikipediaImage:Confederate FlagEscambiaHighRiot2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Confederate FlagNon-student [[Raymond Lindsay]], which was flown is arrested for discharging a weapon at the school events and games, on the grounds that the imagery the items brought up were insensitive to black people. ]]On [[July 24February 4]], [[19731976]], a United States District Court ruling deemed all of an impromptu school election was held in which students were allowed to vote to either keep the aforementioned symbols name as "racially irritatingRaiders" and barred their use at or change the school level (''name back to "Rebels." The students who preferred "Rebels" failed to secure a [[Wikipedia:Augustus v. School Board of Escambia Countysupermajority|Augustus v. School Board of Escambia Countysupermajority]]''needed to win the ballot, 361 F. Supp. 383and the next day, 1973)a riot ensued over four hours in the school day.<refname="schoolboard">Richard Robbins. [http://selectfaculty.plattsburgh.nytimesedu/richard.comrobbins/gstBelief/abstractchapter_two.html?res=F40915F9345812718DDDAE0894DB405B868BF1D3htm "The Belief Machine: The Metaphoric Construction of the World."]</ref> At Four students were shot in the beginning of violence and twenty-six students were injured by rocks and debris while the next school yearcalamity involved students smashing windows and trophy cases, the name "Raiders" as well as fighting with other students. It was picked to be estimated that three-quarters of the new name for all of 2,523 students who attended Escambia High's athletic teamswere involved in the riot.

Throughout 1974, In the [[Escambia County School District]] appealed days following the decisionriot, and on [[January 25]]attendance at the school dropped dramatically, [[1975]], the United States Court of Appeals ruled in favor especially among black students. There were reports of white students jeering at blacks on the school boardnearly empty buses, overturning the injunction and decreeing that a white youth was found loitering near the school board should be in charge with a length of the matter (''Augustus v. School Board chain, but no incidents of Escambia County'', 507 F.2d 152, 1975)violence occurred.

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, and the next day, a riot ensued over four hours in the school day.<ref name="schoolboard">[http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/richard.robbins/Belief/chapter_two.htm]</ref> Four students were shot in =Aftermath==In the violence and twenty-six students were injured by rocks and debris while the calamity involved students smashing windows and trophy cases, as well as fighting with other students. It was estimated weeks that three-quarters of the 2followeed,523 students who attended Escambia High were involved in the riot. In the aftermathhowever, 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. After all the retaliatory violence both at the school and in the community, the Florida National Guard was called in to patrol the school until the end of the year.