New York’s Ban on Native American Mascots Violates Civil Rights, Education Department Rules

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has ruled that two New York state agencies violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by enforcing a ban on Native American-inspired mascots and logos. The decision follows a heated controversy centered on Massapequa High School, whose Chiefs mascot became a lightning rod for debate over cultural representation and free speech.

The investigation, launched in April 2025 after a complaint from the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA), found that the New York Department of Education and the State Board of Regents unfairly targeted Native American imagery while allowing mascots tied to other racial or ethnic groups. "This selective ban is discriminatory," the OCR declared, noting that the 2022 mandate requiring schools to retire Native American mascots or lose federal funding disproportionately silenced Indigenous voices.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, visiting Massapequa High School on Friday, condemned the ban as an attack on cultural heritage. "Erasing Native American history under the guise of progress is not just misguided—it’s an affront to the very communities it claims to protect," she said. The OCR’s resolution demands that New York rescind the ban, issue a memorandum to schools clarifying the policy change, and send apology letters to Indigenous tribes for attempting to erase their cultural presence.

The controversy gained national attention when President Donald Trump called the ban "an insult to our great Indian population." Massapequa School District, facing a potential $1 million rebranding cost, sued the state in September, alleging First Amendment violations, but a federal judge ruled against them. Four Long Island schools have filed similar lawsuits, highlighting the financial and cultural stakes of the mandate.

NAGA’s Vice President Frank Blackcloud emphasized the importance of preserving Native imagery in schools. "These mascots honor our heritage," he said. "Erasing them doesn’t promote equity—it buries our history." The OCR’s findings underscore a broader tension: balancing cultural sensitivity with the right to celebrate heritage. Failure to comply with the resolution could lead to Department of Justice action and the loss of federal funding for New York schools.