Trump administration to investigate New York's funding threat over Long Island tribal school mascot

Source: Associated Press

Trump administration to investigate New York’s funding threat over Long Island tribal school mascot

By SUSAN HAIGH and PHILIP MARCELO
Updated 8:56 PM EDT, April 25, 2025

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday it plans to investigate whether New York education officials are being discriminatory by threatening to withhold funding if a Long Island school district doesn’t stop using a Native American-themed logo.

The probe by the agency’s civil rights office stems from a complaint filed by the Native American Guardian’s Association, a nonprofit that supports “the beautiful artistry of native identifiers in sports and the mainstream,” according to its website. The organization says the funding threat constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

The announced investigation also comes several days after President Donald Trump waded into a local fight over the Massapequa school district’s longtime “Chief” logo, arguing it was “ridiculous” and “an affront to our great Indian population” to now force the Long Island district to change it.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said he had asked his education secretary to “fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue.” The post was included in Friday’s announcement from the Department of Education.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/long-island-massapequa-chief-trump-4ff07aa0cb5f9c44be6f5cb7c5b10bf9