Massapequa schools are determined to maintain their “Chiefs” team name despite a judge dismissing a lawsuit that challenged a state ban on Native American mascots.
The school district and the Native American Parents Association had filed a lawsuit against the state Board of Regents regarding a 2023 mandate that demands public schools to eliminate Native American imagery and team names or face funding penalties.
A Long Island judge has rejected the lawsuit and declined to grant a restraining order, with school officials now committing to appeal what they call an “erroneous decision.”
“We will continue to fight to protect the Chiefs name,” the Massapequa School Board shared in a statement.
A nonprofit called NAGA, which is dedicated to addressing the use of Native American mascots in sports, has made an agreement with Massapequa to support the Chiefs logo while also incorporating additional Native education into their curriculum.
“You’re talking about strength, you’re talking about something that people stand for,” said NAGA member Frank Black Cloud when discussing the significance of the Chiefs name.
During the court proceedings, the guardians argued that the mandate would infringe upon NAGA’s contractual rights, but Judge Sanket Bulsara dismissed this argument in his ruling last month.
Bulsara stated, “NAGA has no rights to the Chiefs mascot. We do not own it or trademark it,” suggesting that NAGA’s claim was no stronger than that of any ordinary citizen.
The judge also expressed concerns about the state’s ban, indicating that it might have serious constitutional issues, particularly regarding race and ancestry classification that could face intense judicial scrutiny.
“This law has the potential to restrict the First Amendment rights of Massapequa School Board members and employees. Still, these complex issues aren’t the focus of this ruling,” he added.
The New York State Department of Education did not respond to inquiries regarding the matter.
Black Cloud, along with other NAGA members, recently joined Education Secretary Linda McMahon at Massapequa High School to reassure students of federal support for the community.
“Protecting Massapequa is this administration’s top priority,” McMahon emphasized.
President Trump has also weighed in on the situation, mentioning recently that he feels a strong connection to the Chiefs and highlighted that the name has become integral to the school’s identity.
“And what’s wrong with using the name ‘Chief’? I don’t see the Kansas City Chiefs changing their name anytime soon!” he expressed on social media.
NAGA has until December 29 to submit an amended complaint.
