Latest news with #MassapequaChiefs
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hot shot lawyer joins fight to save Massapequa ‘Chiefs' name out of love for hometown: ‘That's our identity'
A high-powered lawyer joined the fight to keep the Massapequa Chiefs name and dissolve a state ban on Native American imagery in schools — and he worked pro bono out of hometown pride. Nashville, Tennessee-based Oliver Roberts, who grew up in town before graduating from Harvard Law, stepped up in the 11th hour to join a reinvigorated legal battle against the Empire State's logo ban. 'I think Massapequa is a great place, great people — a place of great values. I just thought it was my way of being able to give back,' Roberts, who played soccer and basketball in the Massapequa school system as a boy, told The Post. 'That's what this is really all about — the state attacking towns like Massapequa, which just are towns that care about their local values,' said Roberts, a 29-year-old constitutional lawyer who successfully took on the IRS twice in court. Roberts kept up with the Massapequa school district's initial, lengthy lawsuit against the state Board of Regents after it imposed the ban in 2023, complete with threats of the funding penalties if schools didn't comply. The Chiefs had faced their case getting dismissed in court in March, but the town sent an SOS to President Trump, who deployed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to intervene on behalf of the close South Shore community. 'LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!' the POTUS declared in April. Roberts, who previously sat on the Massapequa district's finance subcommittee, felt a call to action. He reached out to former school board member Gary Baldinger, a noteworthy Massapequa high alum who also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, with a simple text: 'How can I help out?' Roberts worked pro bono for weeks to file an amended lawsuit ahead of a June deadline on behalf of the district, which has said rebranding would cost taxpayers $1 million. Now with a long legal road ahead, Roberts is on the 'Pequa payroll and is playing for the Chiefs again, this time in the courthouse In May, he and the school also penned a letter to McMahon, asking for further intervention, a referral to the US Department of Justice — and even a federal funding cut for New York State. McMahon toured the high school on Friday. Feds launch discrimination probe against NY officials — after Trump backs Massapequa Chiefs name Long Island school asks Trump to step into battle over 'Chiefs' mascot with just one week until legal deadline Massapequa sports teams thriving even as contentious legal battle over mascot rages on Trump admin threatens federal civil rights lawsuit over NY high school being forced to ditch Native American mascot Hot shot lawyer joins fight to save Massapequa 'Chiefs' name out of love for hometown: 'That's our identity' 'You've got the Huguenots, we've got the Highlanders, we've got the Scotsman. Why is that not considered in any way racist?' McMahon asked. The secretary said she would take the case to the DOJ as a Title VI violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 if New York didn't voluntarily back down. Roberts agreed with McMahon's stance. 'It's clearly attacking just one group on the basis of race and national origin — any other race or ethnicity is totally unattacked by this regulation,' he said. The new lawsuit also touches on other federal legalities, such as Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce between the states and Native American tribes, he explained. Massapequa has entered into a contract with the Native American Guardians Association, a group that joined McMahon at the school in support, to allow use of the Chiefs likeness following the 2023 ban. 'We're arguing that the arbitrary cut-off deadline [of 2023] is unconstitutional and discriminates against indigenous tribes' right to contract,' Roberts added, saying this should 'invalidate' the Board of Regents initiative. On top of all that, Roberts, who played as a Chief for Berner Middle School and Unqua Elementary, firmly believes getting rid of the name does a disservice to the Massapequa youth. 'I've never seen anyone disrespect it. It's always like a point of pride…We're the Chiefs. That's our identity, we proudly wore it on our jerseys,' he said. 'We were often the winning team. That added to the fact that we just really respected the name and felt like it was part of our winning culture.' Now, Roberts is planning to take that victorious reputation inside the courtroom with an update expected around July. 'We're very, very confident we're going to prevail in this matter for Massapequa,' he said.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Republicans roast Democrats in trying to ban ‘Chiefs,' Native-American mascots in NY schools
Republicans are planning to attack their Democratic opponents over New York's effort to force Massapequa to drop its Chiefs mascot as part of a ban on Native-American imagery in school logos. The GOP sees the mascot controversy as another example of Democratic-run Albany pushing fringe issues, and wants them to pay a political price for it. 'We have a lot of chiefs in volunteer fire departments in New York,' said John McLaughlin, a pollster for New York Republicans and President President Trump — also known as the commander-in-chief. 'Hochul and the Democrats should focus on improving reading and math and not indoctrinating our students,' he said. McLaughlin noted that Hochul is already unpopular on Long Island — she has a 55% unfavorable rating in the New York suburbs compared to 36% favorable in a recent Siena College poll. She is up for reelection next year. The comments come after US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Massapequa on Friday and threatened to bring a civil rights case against the Empire State for forcing the high school to ditch its mascot. The event was coordinated by Nassau County Executive and Trump pal Bruce Blakeman, who is up for re-election this fall. 'Denigrating whole communities like Massapequa and Wantagh is not a good look for Governor Hochul, who seems hell bent on making as many enemies as she can on Long Island,' Blakeman, who also is also eying a run for governor next year, told The Post Sunday. Blakeman's Democratic opponent for county executive, Seth Koslow said, 'School pride matters, but it's hard to believe this is the top concern of the federal government right now.' The New York Board of Regents' and state Education ordered schools to ban Native American mascots back in 2023. The members of the education policy-making board are appointed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature. The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee is using the controversy to tar Democratic incumbents up for re-election next year on Long Island and elsewhere, including Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen. 'It's another day that ends in 'y,' so obviously Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen's Democrat Party is more concerned with demonizing a high school mascot than lowering taxes and costs for Long Island families,' said NRCC spokeswoman Maurenn O'Toole. 'Democrats are completely missing the plot, and voters will hold Suozzi and Gillen accountable for their utterly foolish, destructive, and out of touch agenda next fall.' But Suozzi told The Post Sunday, 'I support the Massapequa Chiefs.' Suozzi said Republicans are engaging in cheap politics to change the subject. 'This is nonsense, and just another distraction from national Republicans. Congressman Suozzi supports the Massapequa Chiefs, but not the petty partisan politics that people can't stand,' said Suozzi senior campaign adviser Kim Devlin. 'National Republicans should spend their time reducing prices, negotiating a bipartisan fix on immigration, lowering their own proposed record-breaking deficits, and protecting people's healthcare—not cutting it. Congressman Suozzi has always stood with our communities, and no amount of desperate distortion will change that.' State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs, a close ally of Hochul who also is the Nassau County Democratic leader, said Trump and the GOP are trying to deflect from their unpopular policies in DC by focusing on mascots. 'This is a Republican distraction. The Democrats have not made this an issue,' Jacobs insisted. 'The Republicans are trying to distract from all the damage they're doing in Washington. They want to talk about mascots instead of tariffs, cuts to Medicaid, SNAP benefits and education programs,' Jacobs said. 'This is what Republicans do every election — they try to scare and anger people.' Hochul, through a rep, sought to distance herself from the mascot controversy. 'The decision being discussed was made by the independent State Education Department, which is not under our Administration's jurisdiction,' said Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper. 'While Secretary McMahon focuses on WWE-style distractions, Governor Hochul is focused on what matters: fully funding Long Island's public schools and making sure every kid gets a high-quality education.' Last year, Trump and the GOP successfully slammed Democrats for supporting the unpopular policy of allowing transgender athletes to compete against biological females in sports. Republicans said they are pleasantly surprised — even baffled — at state officials going after local school districts on Long Island, of all places. Numerous Long Island towns have native American names — honoring tribal history — Massapequa, Wyandanch, Manhasset, Mineola, Quogue, Amagansett, Patchogue, Hauppauge, Patchogue, among others.
New York Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Trump gives big boost to Long Island politician with ‘MAGA all the way' endorsement
It was a mega boost for a MAGA Long Island pol. President Trump endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in a glowing social media post, saying the politician 'is doing an incredible job' 'Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with us from the very beginning,' Trump said of the Republican on Truth Social Tuesday night. 4 President Trump endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for re-election. Dennis A. Clark 4 Trump called Blakeman 'MAGA all the way' in a TRUTH Social post. 'He is working hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes, Reduce Regulations, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Great Law Enforcement, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Safeguard our Community. 'Bruce Blakeman has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!' Blakeman, who is seeking re-election in November, has said that Trump has been 'enthusiastic' about his campaign against Democrat Seth Koslow. Trump pledged to fight so the Massapequa Chiefs could keep their name in the face of a New York State ban on Native American imagery. The president is a fan of the county, Blakeman said. 4 Blakeman greeting Trump at MacArthur Airport in Long Island on March 28, 2024. Stephen Yang for NY Post 4 Blakeman told The Post that Trump is a fan of what he's done in Nassau County. Dennis A. Clark 'He has spent a lot of time in Nassau County, and he likes what we've done,' Blakeman told The Post, boasting that U.S News and World Report ranked the 516 as the safest community in America and that Niche called it the best place to live in the nation. 'We've taken a very, very blue county and made it a very, very red county by just sticking to common sense principles and American values that President Trump shares with us — such as not being a sanctuary county, hiring more police officers,' Blakeman added. He also said that not raising taxes for three years and achieving seven bond upgrades is 'unprecedented' for Nassau. 'Wall Street likes what we're doing,' said Blakeman. 'Those are all things that Trump admires, and those are things that we value.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump vows to ‘fight' for school that refuses to change its Native American mascot
President Donald Trump offered his support to an issue that has sewn divisions in one part of New York: a high school's mascot depicting a Native American. In April 2023, the New York State Board of Regents unanimously voted to ban school districts from using Indigenous iconography and names for mascots. Of the 13 school districts on Long Island, nine have complied. The district that Massapequa High School belongs to is among those that have not. Massapequa was among four school districts on Long Island that filed a federal suit challenging the ban, arguing their choice of team names and mascots were protected by the First Amendment. As debate over the logo has grown, Trump entered the discussion and the federal government intervened. 'I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their Teams and School,' Trump said on Truth Social. 'Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population.' The president added that the mascot has become the school's identity and compared it to other mascots. 'I don't see the Kansas City Chiefs changing their name anytime soon!' Trump's post read. Harry Wallace, chief of the Unkechaug Indian Nation from Long Island, told Gothamist that, based on research, such mascots perpetuate racist symbolism and harm all people, including people who are not Indigenous. 'But this is not about logic, it's about emotion,' he said to the news website, talking about the Massapequa case. 'It is ironic that a town that has a history of killing the local Indigenous population should now claim as a tradition a fake image of those very same people.' Shinnecock Indian Nation Council of Trustees member Germain Smith told the same publication that these mascots hurt children. 'We are not a symbol,' Smith said. 'We are not history. We exist today.' Trump wrote that he asked Secretary of Education Linda McMahon 'to fight for the people of Massepequa on this very important issue,' he wrote. 'LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!' Days later, he posed with a Massapequa Chiefs sweater in the Oval Office. On Friday, McMahon announced she would investigate New York's state education department and the state board of regents over threats to pull funding from the Massapequa School District over its allowance of using the mascot for the high school. The Office for Civil Rights will determine if the funding threat 'constitutes discrimination on the basis of race and national origin,' McMahon's office said in a statement. 'While New York chooses to prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history, and their deep connection to the state, it is requiring schools to divert time and resources away from what really matters: educating our students,' McMahon said in the statement. 'It is not lost on the Department that there are several mascots that refer to indigenous or ethnic groups — the Vikings, Fighting Irish, the Cowboys — and yet New York has specifically singled out Native American heritage." Users on social media showed support for Trump and McMahon in bringing further attention to the issue. Others dismissed the president's involvement. 'The Massapequa Chiefs should not be a priority in the Oval Office,' one X user posted on April 22. Resharing Trump with the Chiefs sweater, conservative commentator and YouTube host Benny Johnson simply posted on X the word, 'Epic.' 'Massapequa wants to celebrate its heritage of being white settlers who dispossessed and killed the Native population, then appropriated a culture from 2,000 miles away to claim they belonged,' another X user posted on April 27. 'Nobody needs the president of the United States weighing in on a single local school!' another X user posted on April 23. Mass. Gov. Healey: Trump's fight with Harvard isn't about protecting student safety How a Mass. group is fighting Trump cutting assistance for legal green card holders ICE raids wrong home as 'traumatized' family explains they are citizens Boston Mayor Wu leads Josh Kraft in new poll, but pressure points arise Trump at 100 Days: In Mass., protests, pushback and all the lawsuits | John L. Micek
30-04-2025
- Politics
A town refuses to give up the school's Native American mascot — and gets Trump's support
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. -- As a high school hockey player, Adam Drexler wore his Massapequa Chiefs jersey with pride. But as the Chickasaw Nation member grew up and learned about his Indigenous roots, he came to see the school's mascot — a stereotypical Native American man wearing a headdress — as problematic. Now his Long Island hometown has become the latest flashpoint in the enduring debate over the place of Indigenous imagery in American sports: The Trump administration launched an investigation Friday into whether New York officials are discriminating against Massapequa by threatening to withhold funding. The town has refused to comply with a state mandate to retire Native American sports names and mascots. 'There was no tribe east of the Mississippi that ever wore a headdress — ever,' said Drexler, 60, who was adopted and raised by a white Jewish family. 'How can you argue for a symbol that has no significance or relevance here, while at the same time claiming you honor and respect the culture and history of the people this town is named after?' It's hard to miss the Native American imagery around Massapequa, a coastal hamlet 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Manhattan where roughly 90% of the residents are white. The Chiefs logo is prominently featured on signs adorning school, police and fire department buildings. Students in recent years even painted a colorful mural with the logo and team name on a commercial building next to the high school in protest of change to the mascot. A few minutes drive away, next to the town's post office, a statue of a Native American figure wearing a flowing headdress towers over those depicting a buffalo, a horse and a totem pole. 'When you think of Massapequa, you think of the Chiefs,' said Forrest Bennett, a 15-year-old high school sophomore. New York has been trying to rid schools of Native American mascots going back more than two decades to the administration of Republican Gov. George Pataki, and in 2022 gave districts until the end of the school year to commit to replacing them. Massapequa was among four school districts on Long Island that filed a federal suit challenging the ban, arguing their choice of team names and mascots were protected by the First Amendment. Districts could seek exemption from the state mandates if they gained approval from a Native American tribe, but state officials say Massapequa instead 'stayed silent" for years. The local school board declined to comment this week, instead referring to a Friday statement in which they lauded the investigation by the federal education agency, which President Donald Trump has moved to dismantle in recent weeks. Trump, for his part, has made frequent visits to Long Island in recent years as the suburban region has shifted Republican. Last spring, he visited Massapequa to attend the wake of a New York City police officer. 'Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population,' Trump wrote in a recent social media post. Days later he posed with a Massapequa Chiefs sweater in the Oval Office. 'I don't see the Kansas City Chiefs changing their name anytime soon!' The NFL's Chiefs have stuck with their name despite years of protest from some Native American activists. Five years ago, the team barred fans from wearing headdresses or face paint referencing Native American culture. Meanwhile other professional teams, including football's Washington Redskins ( now Commanders) and baseball's Cleveland Indians ( now Guardians), have adopted new monikers and logos. Along the eateries and shops next to Massapequa High, students and parents insisted the team name and mascot are meant to honor the Massapequa, who were part of the broader Lenape, or Delaware people who inhabited the woodlands of the Northeastern U.S. and Canada for thousands of years before being decimated by European colonization. 'It's not that we're trying to do anything disrespectful,' said Christina Zabbatino, a mother of two. 'Actually, I would be honored if it was my face, you know what I mean?' Lucas Rumberg, a 15-year-old sophomore, shrugged off criticism that the school logo reflects the traditional garb of a Midwest tribe and not the attire worn by the Lenape people eventually forced to move further and further west by colonial settlers and then American government forces as the nation expanded. 'Even though it's not necessarily what they look like here, I feel like it still conveys that we are respectful of Native Americans,' Rumberg said. 'I get that people might be offended by it, but I just feel that it's been here so long that it should stay.' But that dismissive attitude is precisely why stereotypical mascots are offensive, argues Joseph Pierce, director of Native American and Indigenous Studies at Stony Brook University, also on Long Island. 'It is as if this image were a shorthand for any and all Indians,' said the Cherokee Nation citizen. 'And that reduces us to a type, rather than portray us as distinct peoples.' Indian mascots also contribute to the view that Native peoples are relics of the past, and not living communities facing urgent threats today, says Joey Fambrini, a member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians who works for New York Indian Council, a nonprofit providing health care to Native Americans. 'That dehumanization isn't harmless: It directly contributes to why our struggles are ignored or minimized,' the 29-year-old Brooklyn resident said, noting that tribal communities endure high rates of poverty, inadequate housing, lack of clean water and limited education access, among other challenges. The cheerful mascot also obscures Massapequa's grim legacy of violence against Native Americans, says John Kane, a member of the Mohawk tribe of upstate New York who has pushed districts across the state for years to change their names and mascots. The town, after all, was the site of a massacre in which scores of Native men, women and children were killed by Europeans in the 1600s, he said. 'They're not trying to honor us. That's why accuracy of the logo doesn't matter to them,' Kane said. 'So the idea that this is some sort of honor to us? I mean, come on. It's an absurd proposition to even suggest.'
