New York educators are standing firm on their ban of Native American mascots and team names, even in the face of potential federal funding threats from the Trump administration.
Instead, officials suggested in a letter to the U.S. Department of Education that the ban might be broadened to include names and mascots from other racial or ethnic backgrounds considered offensive by the department.
Last week, the federal agency concluded that New York violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by implementing a statewide prohibition on Native American mascots and logos.
The Civil Rights Office pointed out that the state’s ban is discriminatory because it still allows names and mascots derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as “Dutch” and “Huguenots.”
State officials mentioned that Daniel Morton Bentley, a counsel for the education department, is eager to collaborate with federal representatives to “reach resolutions on appropriate standards.”
In his letter, Bentley highlighted the current support from the federal government for retaining Native American team names and mascots, alongside backing from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, tribal leaders, and professional groups who consider such names harmful and offensive.
Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from a local district that resisted adhering to requirements regarding offensive Native American mascots, as noted by Bentley.
He stressed that the Education Bureau and its Civil Rights Bureau shouldn’t serve as a court of last resort for failed litigants.
A spokesperson for the federal education department did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently visited Massapequa, a Long Island district that has not removed its Native American chief mascot and did not contest a federal court’s ruling last week.
McMahon stated she would give New York ten days to retract the ban and apologize to Native Americans for discrimination and for what she called the erasure of their history.
New York school districts could face repercussions, such as the loss of state funds, if they do not commit to removing offensive mascots and team names by June 30. However, they may be exempt if they reach an agreement with local Native American tribes.
The state Department of Education mentioned that, as of Thursday, three districts had received an extension to comply with the mandate, but Massapequa was not among them.
