Feds launch NY race discrimination probe after Trump backs Massapequa Chiefs name
The federal Department of Education has launched an investigation into the New York state officials regarding the use of Native American names and imagery in schools. This probe comes after President Trump voiced his support for a Long Island school district’s “Massapequa Chiefs” nickname.
The investigation will focus on whether the Board of Regents of the New York Department of Education is violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race and national origin by recipients of federal funds. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the Department will not stand by as New York attempts to erase Native American history and heritage from schools.
The Native American Guardians Association filed a complaint with the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights, claiming that New York is unfairly targeting Native American groups and imagery. The association argues that singling out Native Americans in school imagery is discriminatory and contributes to the erasure of their presence and contributions to American history.
New York officials defend their policy, adopted in 2023, as a measure to combat stereotypes. They have threatened to withhold funds from schools in Massapequa, whose school board is currently challenging the requirement in court.
President Trump took to social media to express his support for the Massapequa Chiefs, criticizing the decision to change the school’s name after years of tradition. He called on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to fight for the rights of the people of Massapequa to keep their Chiefs logo.
Kerry Watcher, president of the Massapequa Board of Education, thanked the Department of Education and the Trump administration for standing with the community in preserving the Chiefs name. Watcher emphasized the importance of honoring the community’s history and values through the school’s identity.
The New York State Education Department has not yet responded to requests for comment on the investigation. The outcome of the federal review could potentially result in the withholding of funds to the state if they do not reconsider their stance on the use of Native American names and imagery in schools.
