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‘Redmen’ water tank in Utah triggers new debate over name

(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) A water tank above Cedar City with the former Redmen mascot of Cedar High School in January 2019. The school is got rid of its mascot in February but it remains on the tank.

Cedar City, Utah • A southern Utah city council is delaying a vote about whether to make a water tank adorned with a painted image of a Native American and the name “Redmen” an official city monument.

The Spectrum newspaper in St. George reports the city council in Cedar City decided Wednesday to delay the decision about a proposal that is rekindling a debate that led the school district to get rid of the “Redmen” mascot in February at Cedar High School because it was deemed offensive.

Councilman Paul Cozzens is leading the push to make the water tower a monument to "honor the past." He has said "political correctness" is rampant in the United States.

Opponents say the “Redmen” name is racist and shouldn’t be celebrated.