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Investigation by Ministry of Education The Office of Civil Rights to Two State Institutions in New York (OCR) found that both violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act over the ban on mascots and logos inspired by Native Americans.
The Ministry of Education released a press release of its findings on Friday, just a month later. Start the probe first to the New York State Department of Education and the New York State Legislature board.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifies in Washington on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 before a budget hearing of the Budget Committee Subcommittee at the Capitol Hill Department of Education. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
“The Trump administration is vaguely unbearable as national leaders try to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who visited Massapequa High School on Friday.
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“Instead of focusing on learning outcomes, the New York State Board of Education Committee has turned its eye on mascots of other districts that originate from or are associated with other races or ethnic groups, turning to the erasure of Massapequa’s history.
An investigation was filed when the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) filed a complaint in April after the national agency allegedly forced its home base, Massapequa School District. Chief, Retires as a mascot.
According to media reports, the mural of the Massa Pequa Chiefs School Sports Team, which the Trump administration launched an investigation into New York officials, is depicted on a building next to a high school in Massa Pequa in New York, as it fails to comply with a state order to remove Native American names from the school’s logo, as it threatens to withhold national funds for the Massa Pequa town. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)
“The Native American Guardians Association argues that preserving native themes and images in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity, but a fundamental citizenship for all students. We call on federal and state leaders to support these reduced expressions and contributions.”
Trump calls for New York High School to “silly” to change the Native American mascot
“Making a respectable presence in New York State Schools is essential to education equity, historical truths and civil rights of all American Indians.”
The Department of Education also found that although mascots, names and logos inspired by Native Americans are not permitted under the policy, others “apparently derived from other racial or ethnic groups” make the policy “discriminatory.”
The district sued the state in September, claiming that First Amendment rights had been violated, but a federal judge opposed it. The rebranding, including name and logo changes, would cost around $1 million, district officials argued.
View of Masapequa High School Marquee in Masapequa, New York, Friday, April 25th, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demarie Nikinson)
President Donald Trump I noticed the issue last month and encouraged me to consider the ban that the Ministry of Education called “a frustration on our great Indians.”
The 2022 order requires all public schools to either retire from Native American mascots and logos or risk losses in federal funds. Four Long Island schools have since filed lawsuits.
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The Department of Education, which was released Friday as part of an investigation that proposed solutions to the violation, will include banning “Indigenous names, mascots, and logos,” issuing memorandums to public schools, issuing memorandums to notifying changes, and issuing letters of apology to Indigenous tribes acknowledging that the actions of the two agencies have reduced Native American history and kept silent on the actions of those two agencies.
The marquee outside Masapequa High School is in the background on Friday, April 25th, 2025 by the Chiefs mascot mural in Masapequa, New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demarie Nikinson)
The Ministry of Education said failure to comply with the resolution plan would result in further action by the Department of Justice and potential losses in federal funds.
Ryan Gaydos and Jackson Thompson of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
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