Overview

• The Department’s Office for Civil Rights found that New York’s ban on Native American mascots violated Title VI by allowing other ethnic mascots while targeting Indigenous imagery.
• The 2023 Regents policy affected at least 133 schools in 55 districts, requiring them to retire Indigenous mascots or risk losing education funding.
• Secretary Linda McMahon announced the findings during her May 30 visit to Massapequa High School, following President Trump’s April call to keep the “Chiefs” nickname.
• The investigation was triggered by a complaint from the Native American Guardians Association and concluded that state education agencies enforced the ban discriminatorily.
• State officials face a ten-day deadline to rescind the prohibition and issue formal apologies to Native American communities or see the case referred to the Justice Department.