With protest signs in hand, Radnor High School students held a school-sanctioned demonstration Monday by walking out of class, writes George Solis for 6abc.com.

The peaceful protest was over a decision in September 2020 to retire the Radnor High School Radnor Raiders nickname and Native American imagery.

The name had been around for 70 years.

The goal was to “foster a fully inclusive community.”

Most agreed the Native American imagery wasn’t needed, but they balked at losing the nickname. 

“After the year we’ve all had, this is just another thing that we’ve lost,” said sophomore Cackie Martin.

Others, though, said Native American members in the community feel “harmed and attacked by the name Raiders,” according to junior Reese Hillman.

Now there’s debate over what the new nickname should be.

A list of 56 has been reduced to eight. A committee and a focus group are checking out the remaining names.

There’s hope for common ground.

” I just think the best way for our school to move forward is to completely distance ourselves from his past that has been so harmful,” said Hillman.

The new nickname is expected to be chosen sometime in June.

Read more at 6abc.com about the Radnor High nickname.