Latest news with #NativeAmerican-themed
Epoch Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
New York Ban of Native American Mascots Violates Civil Rights Law, Education Secretary Says
The U.S. Department of Education is threatening legal action against the state of New York for forcing a Long Island high school to abandon its Native American-themed mascot. During a visit to Massapequa High School on Friday, Education Secretary Linda McMahon
Washington Post
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump administration to investigate New York's funding threat over Long Island tribal school mascot
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday it plans to investigate whether New York education officials are being discriminatory by threatening to withhold funding if a Long Island school district doesn't stop using a Native American-themed logo. The probe by the agency's civil rights office stems from a complaint filed by the Native American Guardian's Association, a nonprofit that supports 'the beautiful artistry of native identifiers in sports and the mainstream,' according to its website. The organization says the funding threat constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The announced investigation also comes several days after President Donald Trump waded into a local fight over the Massapequa school district's longtime 'Chief' logo, arguing it was 'ridiculous' and 'an affront to our great Indian population' to now force the Long Island district to change it. In his Truth Social post, Trump said he had asked his education secretary to 'fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue.' The post was included in Friday's announcement from the Department of Education. 'The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools,' said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. McMahon accused New York officials of choosing to 'prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history, and their deep connection the state' and said 'it is not lost on the Department' that the state has singled out Native American history and not mascots tied to other groups. She citing 'the Vikings, Fighting Irish, (and) the Cowboys' as examples in her statement. 'We will investigate this matter fully,' she said. JP O'Hare, spokesperson for the New York State Education Department, said in an email Friday evening that the agency had not yet been informed of any investigation. 'However, the U.S. Department of Education's attempt to interfere with a state law concerning school district mascots is inconsistent with Secretary McMahon's March 20, 2025 statement that she is 'sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs,' ' he said. 'Massapequa has already filed, and lost, a lawsuit regarding this issue,' he said, adding how the state had encouraged the district to consult with local Indigenous representatives. In an earlier statement, O'Hare said the state's Board of Regents in April 2023 adopted regulations 'to end the demeaning Indigenous names and mascots in New York's public schools,' noting that 'certain Native American names and images have been shown to perpetuate negative stereotypes that are demonstrably harmful to children.' 'Disrespecting entire groups of people is wrong in any context, but especially in our schools, where all students should feel welcome and supported,' he said. Frank Blackcloud, vice president of the North Dakota-based Native American Guardian's Association, said in a statement that 'the preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students.' Kerry Wachter, president of the Massapequa Board of Education, thanked the Trump administration for 'standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community's proud history.' But Harry Wallace, chief of the state-recognized Unkechaug Indian Nation, which has a reservation on Long Island, said in a statement that it was '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.' __ Haigh reported from Connecticut.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Investigating New York School Native American Mascot Fight
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday that it will investigate whether New York state officials engaged in discrimination by threatening to pull funding from a Long Island school district unless it stops using a Native American-themed logo. Why It Matters The move comes just days after President Donald Trump weighed in on the dispute surrounding the Massapequa High School's longtime "Chiefs" logo. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the effort to force a change "ridiculous" and "an affront to our great Indian population." He added that he had directed his education secretary to "fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue." The Department of Education's announcement Friday prominently included Trump's statement. A Big Chief Lewis statue is surrounded by a fence in Massapequa, N.Y., Friday, April 25, 2025. A Big Chief Lewis statue is surrounded by a fence in Massapequa, N.Y., Friday, April 25, 2025. Associated Press What to Know The Massapequa School District is at the center of a heated controversy over its longtime "Chiefs" mascot after New York state education officials ordered districts to retire Native American-themed logos or risk losing funding. The directive, based on 2023 regulations aimed at ending the use of Indigenous names and imagery in public schools, prompted Massapequa to challenge the mandate in court—a challenge it ultimately lost. Supporters of the Massapequa Chiefs, including the Native American Guardian's Association, argue that preserving Native-themed mascots honors cultural heritage and is a matter of civil rights, while opponents maintain that such imagery is outdated and disrespectful. The investigation, initiated by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, stems from a complaint filed by the Native American Guardian's Association, a nonprofit advocating for the preservation of Native American imagery in sports and public life. The organization argues that the state's actions violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. New York's Department of Education declined to comment to the Associated Press Friday but previously defended its position. Spokesperson JP O'Hare pointed to the state Board of Regents' 2023 regulations aimed at ending "demeaning Indigenous names and mascots" in public schools, citing evidence that such imagery perpetuates harmful stereotypes. What People Are Saying McMahon accused New York officials of attempting to "erase" Native American history rather than honoring it, "It is not lost on the Department that the state has chosen to target Native American imagery while allowing other mascots, such as the Vikings, Fighting Irish, and Cowboys, to remain," she said. "We will investigate this matter fully." She also stated, "The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools." O'Hare said told AP, "Disrespecting entire groups of people is wrong in any context, but especially in our schools, where all students should feel welcome and supported. He also noted that Massapequa did not engage with Indigenous leaders during the rulemaking process and instead challenged the regulations in court — and lost: "It is ironic that the federal government now seeks to intervene on an issue that is squarely reserved to the States." Frank Blackcloud, vice president of the Native American Guardian's Association, welcomed the federal investigation, telling AP, "The preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students." Kerry Wachter, president of the Massapequa Board of Education, thanked the Trump administration for its support in a statement to AP, "We appreciate the administration standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community's proud history." What Happens Next The June deadline for complying with the mascot mandate looms. Under state rules, schools that refuse to comply face the loss of state funding and possible removal of district leadership. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Hamilton Spectator
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Trump administration to investigate New York's funding threat over Long Island tribal school mascot
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday it plans to investigate whether New York education officials are being discriminatory by threatening to withhold funding if a Long Island school district doesn't stop using a Native American-themed logo. The probe by the agency's civil rights office stems from a complaint filed by the Native American Guardian's Association, a nonprofit that supports 'the beautiful artistry of native identifiers in sports and the mainstream,' according to its website. The organization says the funding threat constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The announced investigation also comes several days after President Donald Trump waded in into a local fight over the Massapequa school district's longtime 'Chief' logo, arguing it was 'ridiculous' and 'an affront to our great Indian population' to now force the Long Island district to change it. In his Truth Social post, Trump said he had asked his education secretary to 'fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue.' The post was included in Friday's announcement from the Department of Education. 'The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools,' said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. McMahon accused New York officials of choosing to 'prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history, and their deep connection the state' and said 'it is not lost on the Department' that the state has singled out Native American history and not mascots tied to other groups. She citing 'the Vikings, Fighting Irish, (and) the Cowboys' as examples in her statement. 'We will investigate this matter fully,' she said. A message was left seeking comment with the New York Department of Education. In an earlier statement, JP O'Hare, the agency's spokesperson, said the state's Board of Regents in April 2023 adopted regulations 'to end the demeaning Indigenous names and mascots in New York's public schools,' noting that 'certain Native American names and images have been shown to perpetuate negative stereotypes that are demonstrably harmful to children.' 'Disrespecting entire groups of people is wrong in any context, but especially in our schools, where all students should feel welcome and supported,' he said. O'Hare said the Massapequa school system 'stayed silent during the regulatory process' and did not reach out to Indigenous leaders or the department's Mascot Advisory Committee to determine whether its team name and mascot would be permissible. Instead, he said, Massapequa challenged the regulations in court and lost. 'It is ironic that the federal government now seeks to intervene on an issue that is squarely reserved to the States,' O'Hare said. Frank Blackcloud, vice president of the North Dakota-based Native American Guardian's Association, said in a statement that 'the preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students.' Kerry Wachter, president of the Massapequa Board of Education, thanked the Trump administration for 'standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community's proud history.' __ Haigh reported from Connecticut.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump administration to investigate New York's funding threat over Long Island tribal school mascot
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday it plans to investigate whether New York education officials are being discriminatory by threatening to withhold funding if a Long Island school district doesn't stop using a Native American-themed logo. The probe by the agency's civil rights office stems from a complaint filed by the Native American Guardian's Association, a nonprofit that supports 'the beautiful artistry of native identifiers in sports and the mainstream,' according to its website. The organization says the funding threat constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The announced investigation also comes several days after President Donald Trump waded in into a local fight over the Massapequa school district's longtime 'Chief" logo, arguing it was 'ridiculous' and 'an affront to our great Indian population' to now force the Long Island district to change it. In his Truth Social post, Trump said he had asked his education secretary to 'fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue.' The post was included in Friday's announcement from the Department of Education. "The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools,' said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. McMahon accused New York officials of choosing to 'prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history, and their deep connection the state' and said 'it is not lost on the Department' that the state has singled out Native American history and not mascots tied to other groups. She citing 'the Vikings, Fighting Irish, (and) the Cowboys' as examples in her statement. 'We will investigate this matter fully,' she said. A message was left seeking comment with the New York Department of Education. In an earlier statement, JP O'Hare, the agency's spokesperson, said the state's Board of Regents in April 2023 adopted regulations 'to end the demeaning Indigenous names and mascots in New York's public schools," noting that 'certain Native American names and images have been shown to perpetuate negative stereotypes that are demonstrably harmful to children.' 'Disrespecting entire groups of people is wrong in any context, but especially in our schools, where all students should feel welcome and supported,' he said. O'Hare said the Massapequa school system 'stayed silent during the regulatory process' and did not reach out to Indigenous leaders or the department's Mascot Advisory Committee to determine whether its team name and mascot would be permissible. Instead, he said, Massapequa challenged the regulations in court and lost. 'It is ironic that the federal government now seeks to intervene on an issue that is squarely reserved to the States,' O'Hare said. Frank Blackcloud, vice president of the North Dakota-based Native American Guardian's Association, said in a statement that 'the preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students.' __ Haigh reported from Connecticut.
