The Department of Education will sue State education departments over rules regarding mascots, starting with the New York Department of Education.
The New York Department of Education has ordered the school in Massapegua, New York, to change the mascot name, which is currently the Massapegua Chiefs. This is part of a wider movement in sports to remove the appropriation of Native American words, themes and names in sports invented and promulgated by Euro-Americans. For example, the Washington Redskins changed their name to Washington Commanders in 2020 under pressure by Native American and other advocacy groups.
Massapegua is a small town by New York standards, with a population of around 21,000 (including a Native American population of only .02%). The majority of citizens want the high school to maintain the Chiefs mascot; however, a number of outside advocacy groups wish for that to change. But more importantly, the NY Dept. of Education has ordered them to change the mascot.
There is one single Native American advocacy group that is working with the US Dept. of Education to sue the school district: The Native American Guardians Association (NAGA). This group was formed in 2017 with funding from Dan Snyder, former owner of the Washington Commanders (Redskins at the time), and well-known toxic boss, and one of the worst owners of any professional sports teams in American History. NAGA boasts Native Americans within its ranks, and its website has a fairly rambling history that would lead you to believe the group has been around for at least decades, which you can read, if interested.
I believe there is room for debate on these matters. However, the Trump administration has vowed to return education to State departments of education. Yet, in this case, the Trump administration is seeking to force a State to manage its schools according to Federal desires.
Particularly, this suit alleges that it is racist to force a school to change its Native American-themed mascot. This is another example of the backward, oppositeworld, hypocrisy of Trumpism. If they want Federalism, they should not sue a State over policies on something as trite as mascots.
With all the other—more terrible—things the administration is doing: deporting lawful immigrants without cause; deporting citizens without a hearing; etc...these smaller things are also happening, and I think it's important that they get some coverage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massapequa,_New_York
https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5269394-mcmahon-new-york-school-native-american-mascot/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_Guardians_Association
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Snyder
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/investigation-into-unlawful-straw-donor-and-foreign-contributions-in-american-elections/
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