Overview

• On May 30, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Massapequa High School after her department concluded that New York’s 2023 ban on Native American mascots violates federal civil rights law.
• The Department of Education is asking the state to issue a formal apology to Massapequa School District and permit it and other districts to keep their chosen mascots under threat of Justice Department referral.
• Massapequa’s federal lawsuit against the ban was dismissed earlier this year, prompting a Trump-ordered investigation that led to Friday’s findings.
• The Board of Regents’ 2023 policy affected more than a dozen Long Island districts, and Massapequa remains one of four still contesting the rule in court.
• Supporters argue the “Chiefs” nickname honors local heritage, while Native American advocates say the imagery perpetuates stereotypes and misrepresents Indigenous cultures.