A Massapequa Excessive Faculty senior, the pinnacle of the U.S. Division of. Schooling, Linda McMahon and Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman (L. to R.) with Massapequa Chiefs shirts
Photograph by Casey Fahrer
Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon mentioned on Friday in a go to to Massapequa that the state Board of Regents’ ban on Native American imagery in public faculties violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
McMahon mentioned she is giving the state training division 10 days to conform or threat being referred to the U.S. Division of Justice for enforcement proceedings and probably dropping federal funding.
“Schools operate best and education operates best when it’s closer to the child,” she mentioned whereas standing subsequent to Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman and different native officers in Massapequa Excessive Faculty’s gymnasium.
McMahon’s journey to Lengthy Island comes because the Massapequa Faculty District has fought for months towards the state’s regulation to get rid of Native American mascots, names and logos, which was authorized in April of 2023.
Linda McMahon, the pinnacle of the U.S. Division of Schooling, mentioned the investigation into the state discovered it violated the Civil Rights Act. Photograph by Casey Fahrer
Colleges have been initially tasked with establishing a brand new mascot by the top of the 2022-23 college yr, however this was later modified to June 2025.
The Massapequa Faculty District, together with the Wantagh, Connetquot, and Wyandanch college districts, filed a lawsuit difficult the state’s coverage. The lawsuit was dismissed in federal courtroom in March however has been appealed by Massapequa.
The Schooling Division introduced in April that it was investigating whether or not the state’s menace to withhold funding if the Massapequa Faculty District didn’t drop its Native American mascot constitutes discrimination on the idea of race and nationwide origin.
McMahon mentioned on Friday that the investigation discovered that the state violated the Civil Rights Act.
The U.S. Division of Schooling web site mentioned state Schooling Division should rescind the a part of the academic regulation prohibiting using Indigenous names, mascots, and logos by New York public faculties, problem a memorandum to all native training businesses informing them that they could undertake a reputation, mascot, and brand according to the necessities of Title VI; and problem letters of apology to Indigenous tribes, acknowledging that the board violated Title VI by discriminating towards Native People.
McMahon known as the U.S. Division’s request within the decision “reasonable.”
The state Division of Schooling known as the federal motion a “sham” and “political theater.”
Gordon Tepper, the Lengthy Island press secretary for Gov. Kathy Hochul, mentioned that though the governor’s administration doesn’t oversee the state Division of Schooling, she is dedicated to the continued success of public faculties.
“While Secretary McMahon focuses on WWE-style distractions, Gov. Hochul is focused on what matters: fully funding Long Island’s public schools and making sure every kid gets a high-quality education,” he mentioned.
Tepper’s remark was in obvious reference to McMahon serving to discovered and run World Wrestling Leisure.
Blakeman expressed help for McMahon’s actions.
“We’re not going to tolerate the state government telling us what mascots we can use or not,” Blakeman mentioned on Friday.
Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman preached for native management at school districts choosing their mascots, names and logos. Photograph by Casey Fahrer
Blakeman, McMahon, and Donald Trump have been gifted shirts from the varsity district that includes an illustration of a chief.
The president had publicly supported the Massapequa Faculty District on social media up to now. On Friday, McMahon mentioned that Trump personally requested her to analyze the matter.
“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 mentioned in April. “The School Board, and virtually everyone in the area, are demanding the name be kept. It has become the school’s identity.”
The state Division of Schooling had known as its coverage legally sound in a Could 12 letter to the U.S. Division of Schooling.
One week prior, the Massapequa Faculty District’s Board of Schooling despatched a letter to the U.S. Division of Schooling requesting most of the issues that McMahon had introduced on Friday on the college.
On Friday, Board President Kerry Wachter mentioned, “Being a Chief isn’t a slogan, it’s a standard.”
The Native American Guardians Affiliation beforehand entered a binding settlement with the Massapequa Faculty District in help of its combat to maintain its mascot. The group’s vp, Frank Black Cloud, spoke on the college on Friday in help of the U.S. Division of Schooling’s investigation.
“I’d like to consider this MAGA meets NAGA,” he mentioned. “We urge policymakers to reconsider these sweeping mandates and to foster appreciation, not annihilation of our shared cultural legacy.”
Efforts to succeed in the state Division of Schooling for remark have been unavailing.
The vp of NAGA, Frank Black Cloud, confirmed help for the Massapequa Faculty District. Photograph by Casey Fahrer
