Trump's education secretary threatens to pull funding from NY over its Native American mascot ban
Earlier DU thread: Education Department to probe New York for trying to pull school mascot of Native American
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Source: Associated Press
Trump’s education secretary threatens to pull funding from NY over its Native American mascot ban
By PHILIP MARCELO
Updated 4:47 PM EDT, May 30, 2025
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — New York is discriminating against a school district that refuses to get rid of its Native American chief mascot and could face a Justice Department investigation or risk losing federal funding, President Donald Trump’s top education official said Friday.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, on a visit to Massapequa High School on Long Island, said an investigation by her agency has determined that state education officials violated Title VI of the federal civil rights law by banning the use of Native American mascots and logos statewide.
The department’s civil rights office found the state ban is discriminatory because names and mascots derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the “Dutchmen” and the “Huguenots,” are still permitted.
McMahon described Massapequa’s chiefs mascot as an “incredible” representation of Native American leadership as she made the announcement backed by dozens of students and local officials in the high school gymnasium.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/massapequa-chiefs-mascot-trump-mcmahon-education-ny-b43b5758b287c866244ef019fc6107f1