By Hank Russell
The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into the New York State Board of Regents for a reported violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will assess whether New York’s threat to withhold funding if the Massapequa School District does not eliminate its Native American mascot constitutes discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. The school’s decision has garnered support from elected officials, including President Donald Trump.
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, Trump posted on his Truth Social page a message showing support for the Massapequa School District. “The School Board, and virtually everyone in the area, are demanding the name be kept. It has become the School’s identity and, what could be wrong with using the name, “Chief”?,” Trump continued. “I don’t see the Kansas City Chiefs changing their name anytime soon! By copy of this TRUTH, I am asking my highly capable Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue. LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!”
It was also reported that the state’s Board of Regents banned the use of Native American nicknames and mascots in 2023 and ordered the schools to change their names or else they would not receive school funding from the state, citing CBS New York.
The Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, stating that the New York Department of Education and the New York Board of Regents is violating federal civil rights law by forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its ‘Chiefs’ mascot based on its association with Native American culture.
“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. Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “While New York chooses to prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history, and their deep connection the state, it is requiring schools to divert time and resources away from what really matters: educating our students. 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. We will investigate this matter fully.”
“The Native American Guardians Association stands firm in asserting 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. We call on federal and state leaders to help us defend these dwindling expressions or our presence and contributions,” said Frank Blackcloud, vice president of NAGA. “Maintaining a respectable presence in NY State schools is vital to educational equity, historical truth, and the civil rights of all American Indians.”
“We thank the Department of Education and the Trump Administration for standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community’s proud history. We’re especially grateful to the Native American Guardians Association for its support and advocacy. Attempts to erase Native American imagery do not advance learning—they distract from our core mission of providing a high-quality education grounded in respect, history, and community values,” said Massapequa School Board President Kerry Watcher.