Mascot

The proposed legislation passed in the Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday. The Mascoutah Indians, Collinsville Kahoks, Cahokia High School Comanches and Whiteside Junior High’s Warriors could all be required to change.

Representatives passed the legislation 71-38 along party lines. If passed by the Senate, it would prohibit public schools from using references to disabilities as mascots and require them to change by 2028.

People with dwarfism find the term midget derogatory. The bill, requiring the Metro East high school to pick a replacement by 2028, could come up for debate on the House floor within two weeks.

The bill that would force Freeburg to ditch its mascot is scheduled to be called in two House Education Policy Committee hearings this week.

The Midgets mascot originated roughly 90 years ago. If passed by Illinois lawmakers, the bill would require the Metro East high school to change by September 2028.

Advocates have said Freeburg's mascot, the "Midgets” to be derogatory, objectifying and dehumanizing. A bill proposed in the Illinois General Assembly would ban public schools from using derogatory names for people with disabilities as mascots.

Freeburg has been the “Midgets” for 90 years. Many people with dwarfism now consider the term a slur.

The Kansas City Chiefs are headed back to the biggest stage in football and, once again, protesters are calling out the team’s troublesome traditions that borrow from Native American culture.