Mascot meeting on Friday

The Coachella Valley Unified School District will hold a special board meeting Friday to discuss Coachella Valley High School’s “Arab” mascot, which recently drew fire from a national anti-discrimination group.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the school’s gym, according to the school district.

On Nov. 1, the Washington, D.C.-based Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee sent a letter to the district stating that the group was “appalled” by the mascot, depicted as “a man with a large nose, heavy beard, and wearing … a traditional Arab head covering” at school functions and sporting events.

The letter also referred to a girl dressed as a belly dancer who appears during halftime shows.

“These are examples of gross stereotyping, which must not be tolerated, and must immediately be addressed,” the letter stated.

The group also posted a petition on its website asking the district to address the matter.

The controversy comes as the owner of the Washington Redskins football team has faced criticism from a Native American nation and others for continuing to use the name.