Education Department says ban on Native American logos, mascots violated federal civil rights law

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights said an investigation revealed that two New York state agencies violated federal civil rights law by banning Native American-inspired mascots and logos.

The department's investigation, unveiled Friday, determined that the New York Department of Education and the New York State Board of Regents violated the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after state agencies forced Massapequa School District, home of the Chiefs, to retire its mascot.

The agency said if the school doesn't agree with the Education Department's proposed resolution it could withhold federal education funding and refer the case to the Department of Justice for prosecution.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited the high school on Friday to discuss the findings of the agency's investigation.

“The Trump administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes," McMahon said. “Rather than focus on learning outcomes, the New York Department of Education and Board of Regents has set its sights on erasing Massapequa’s history – while turning a blind eye to other districts’ mascots that are derived from or connected to other racial or ethnic groups."

The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by the Native American Guardians Association. It said the Board of Regents was violating federal antidiscrimination law by "forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its ‘Chiefs’ mascot based on its association with Native American culture."

Two years ago, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to prohibit the use of Indigenous team names, mascots and logos by New York public schools. The move was backed by civil liberties groups and some Native American tribes, who said Indian mascots promote negative stereotypes and gloss over brutal suppression of the region’s indigenous people by colonial governments.

Under the regulations, names or imagery can be used if the school district gets formal consent from New York's indigenous nations or tribes. The deadline to comply with the new rules is June 30, and schools deemed in violation could face state funding cuts.

Four Long Island school districts, including Massapequa, challenged the regulations in U.S. District Court but in March a federal judge rejected the complaint.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican and Trump supporter, praised the Education Department for intervening in the dispute over the mascot ban.

President Donald Trump has expressed support for Massapequa High School and called the idea of changing the school’s mascot "ridiculous." In a post on social media, Trump urged McMahon to "fight for the people of Massapequa" by reviewing the mascot ban.

"We will stand with the people of Massapequa until commonsense is restored and justice is served, and until New York comes into compliance with federal law," McMahon said Friday.