Goal
Description
The previous mascot of Fairfax High School was a caricature of a Confederate soldier known as "Johnny Reb". Because of complaints from students and parents, and at the suggestion of the school's Minority Achievement Task Force, principal Harry Holsinger removed the Johnny Reb symbol in 1985. Student protests, rallies, and a lawsuit followed, which challenged the principal's actions as violating the First Amendment guarantees of free speech. In Crosby v. Holsinger, 852 F.2d 801 (4th Cir. 1988), the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the federal district court decision in favor of the principal. After Johnny Reb was removed, the mascot was a set of crossed swords, and an unusual mascot, that resembled a ball of lint, called the Rebel Rouser. In 2003, the school voted on a new physical mascot while keeping the same nickname, a lion (Rebel-lion). In June 2020, "Rebel" was dropped entirely, and the team name became the Fairfax Lions
Principal Erin Lenart acknowledged the school's long history of mascot changes at the school, dating back to the school's original mascot, Johnny Reb, which was changed back in 1985.
"The history of the mascot change at Fairfax evolved from that removal of Johnny Reb to the Rebel Rouser to Rebel Pride. Each iteration maintained some element of Rebel, and the most recent iteration, Rebel Pride, is a phrase frequently used in tribute to the Confederacy," Lenart said.
While she made it clear she believed those involved in the change to Rebel Pride did not intend to glorify the Confederacy, "we do not have the luxury of rebranding in contradiction to what a long and well-established history already defines it to mean."
"At Fairfax, we pride ourselves on inclusivity, family, belongingness, respect, and integrity, and given the history of Rebel, it is time for a change," Lenart said, "As we move forward, I hope that our entire community can feel whole, valued, appreciated, affirmed and supported as we rise together as the Fairfax Lions."
"Johnny Reb" mascot eliminated in 1986
Principal Harry F. Holsinger eliminated the mascot in 1986 after blacks complained that the rebel character, outfitted in Confederate colors and flag, had racial overtones.
Following Holsinger's action, more than 2,000 students and parents signed a petition demanding that Johnny Reb return, and nine students and parents filed a $1.1 million suit against the principal, saying he had violated their First Amendment rights.
"A school mascot or symbol bears the stamp of approval of the school itself. Therefore, school authorities are free to disassociate the school from such a symbol because of educational concerns," the three-judge panel of the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in its unanimous decision upholding the lower court.
The panel -- Circuit Judges J. Dickson Phillips, James M. Sprouse and Sam J. Ervin III -- said that school officials have the authority to distance a school from "controversial speech even if it may limit student expression." Further, the judges said, "Holsinger was within his power to remove a school symbol that blacks found offensive."
In addition to dropping Johnny Reb, Holsinger decided to change the name of the Confederettes drill team and alter the school flag, a blue-and-gray version of the Confederate battle flag. Johnny Reb was replaced by two school logos: One says "Fairfax Rebels" under crossed swords; the other shows symbols of learning over the Latin words for "always progressing."
"It's about time for this to be done with," said Holsinger, adding that it wasn't just blacks who criticized Johnny Reb: "White parents asked me why in the world we would have a symbol like that in this day and age."