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Indigenous students and allies press board to remove Hiram Johnson 'warrior' imagery ahead of state deadline
Summary
Following a staff presentation on mascot‑change procedures and AB 3074 requirements, dozens of Indigenous students, elders and allies urged the board to retire Hiram Johnson’s warrior imagery and headdress depictions, calling them harmful stereotypes; trustees signaled support for immediate removal of the most objectionable images and asked staff for an implementation plan.
District staff presented a step‑by‑step process for changing school mascots that emphasized site initiation, stakeholder engagement, facilities and communications review, and legal compliance under AB 3074 — the California Racial Mascot Act. Staff noted AB 3074 requires retirement of derogatory Native American mascots by July 1, 2026, and observed that secondary sites can face much higher costs and complexity for a full rebrand.
A large group of Indigenous students, elders, parents and community members then spoke specifically about Hiram (Hyram) Johnson High School’s ‘warrior’ imagery, including murals and gymnasium depictions of a figure wearing a headdress. Speakers argued those images are culturally appropriative and damaging to Native students’ mental health and identity; several cited research by the American Psychological Association and called for immediate removal of the most egregious depictions. Speakers urged staff to proceed promptly with removal and to work with tribal representatives on respectful next steps.
Several trustees responded by saying the legal deadline requires action by July 1 and that the board supports removing offensive imagery expeditiously; they asked staff to bring back a clear implementation and community engagement timeline and to clarify the state reimbursement process for replacement costs.
Why it matters: AB 3074 creates a legal obligation for districts and raises local questions about timelines, community engagement, and funding for replacing long‑standing site decorations, uniforms, and spirit materials.
What’s next: Staff told trustees they could remove the most prominent offensive imagery quickly and would begin developing a phased implementation and a community engagement plan with tribal input; reimbursement potential will be clarified in follow‑up materials.
