"It's time for the Reds to go.

The Eaton High School mascot — a cartoon figure of a shirtless, scowling American Indian in a loin cloth and leather pants — is offensive. And not just to American Indians. We, along with many others, think it's wrong, also.

Colorado Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, who is descended from American Indians, introduced a bill recently that would bar public and charter schools from using American Indian-themed mascots unless they receive permission from the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs. Schools that fail to comply would face a fine of up to $1,000 a month.

It's unfortunate Williams even had to introduce the legislation. Schools like Eaton that have mascots portraying American Indians in a stereotypical, unfavorable light should have done away with these representations long ago.

But they still hang on, despite the civil rights movement of the 1960s, despite other entities shedding the negative names and mascots."

Get the Story:
Tribune Opinion: It's time to find a new mascot (The Greeley Tribune 1/31)

Also Today:
Legislators fume over Native American mascots (The Colorado Statesman 1/29)
ChaToyya Sewell: Native American mascots not fair representations (The Maneater 1/29)