New York suspends part of statewide ban on Native imagery for schools
Decision overrules 2023 mandate by giving local decision-making to districts
In the evolving arena of Indigenous representation in American sports, New York issued a significant reversal Monday on its ban against offensive imagery for school sports logos.
Since the New York Board of Regents enacted the 2023 mandate against portrayals deemed stereotypical by the Department of Education, local districts have pushed back. Jeff Capellini for CBS News reported one of those districts, located on Long Island, celebrated the decision to drop part of the ban. The Massapequa High School “Chiefs” fought to retain their mascot by reaching out to President Donald Trump and painting a large mural of their logo on the school building.
The National Center for Education Statistics indicates Massapequa had a total student population of 1,407 in the 2024-2025 school year. At that time, five enrolled students were ethnically American Indian/Alaska Native and one student was Hawaii Native/Pacific Islander. The data showed 1,235 white students enrolled that year.
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