An Odessa-based group has called for Midland ISD to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School. The call comes amid recent controversy over the Confederate flag.
Una Voz Unida said on Monday, “Midland ISD, if you truly represent your community, now would be the time to rename Robert. E. Lee High School which was built in 1961, during the Civil Rights Movement.”
In response, many, but not all of the comments on the Una Voz Unida Facebook page were negative.
For example, Josh Hollar wrote, “How about you push for something that could actually be beneficial to people’s lives instead of complaining about everything that offends you in your childish, politically correct mind?”
The school teams are called the Rebels, and there just so happens to be a resident across the street from the school who flies a Confederate battle flag.
“We’ve had that Confederate Flag there for years,” said Midland resident Kathy Suiter.
“Just because I have my Rebel flag up doesn’t mean I’m racist,” said Suiter.
Suiter believes the name of the school should remain unchanged.
“It’s like they’re trying to rewrite history or erase part of history that shouldn’t be forgotten,” said Midland Lee graduate Dustin Johnson.
Midland ISD released a brief statement saying it has a diverse student body and the school system does not use the Confederate flag.
(Yourbasin.com contributed to this report.)
