From our partners at WRJN
Kenosha---Supporters of the naming of the new football stadium at Bradford High School for Mary D. Bradford are not taking the Kenosha Unified School Board decision to name the facility for late school board member Olen Arrington, Junior lying down.
The school board, at a special meeting Tuesday night, set aside the recommendation of an ad hoc naming committee and voted 3 to 2, with 2 members absent, to name the stadium for Arrington, the board's first African American member. The outcry since Tuesday night's vote has been loud, and an on-line petition on Change.org already has over a thousand signatures urging the board to rescind the vote.
According to the letter with the petition, it is not to protest or disrespect Arrington or his legacy, it is "simply not the proper choice for OUR stadium." The letter asks "Why did we vote you to the board if you don't listen to us?"
The petition webpage also urges supporters to reach out to board members directly to voice their opinion.
Meanwhile, one of the two board members who were absent Tuesday night said that "Olen Arrington Stadium" would not have been his first choice for the facility. Dan Wade said he believes school stadiums should be named after each individual school's mascot. In the case of Bradford that would be "The Red Devils."
In an emailed statement to a reporter, Wade said he feels badly for those on the naming committee who had their recommendation rejected.
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David Cole contributed to this report.