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Special Meeting Will Discuss High School's Controversial Arab Mascot

THERMAL (AP) — A special meeting will be held to discuss the growing controversy over a Southern California high school's longstanding Arab mascot.

The Desert Sun reports Tuesday  that the Coachella Valley Unified School Board had planned to address the issue at a regular Nov. 21 meeting, but decided to hold a special meeting Friday to allow more time for discussion.

Coachella Valley High School's mascot has been around since the 1920s. It was chosen to recognize the area's reliance on date farming, traditionally a Middle Eastern crop. The mascot has evolved from a turban-wearing horseman carrying a lance to a standing figure with a snarl on its face and sporting a headscarf.

Recently, an anti-discrimination group demanded that the school get rid of the mascot.

Superintendent Darryl Adams said the mascot was never intended to ridicule anyone.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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