Appellate Court Tells School No in Their Fight to Keep Offensive Mascots

An appellate court has ruled against the Cambridge Central School District’s challenge to a New York state mandate that seeks to end the use of Native American mascots, nicknames, and imagery in schools. This ruling could significantly impact similar legal challenges by four Long Island school districts.

The state Appellate Division panel dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Cambridge district, concluding a contentious debate that had deeply involved the local community and school board. The district argued that the state’s directive infringed upon free speech and local governance of schools. However, following the court’s decision, the district has announced its intention to abandon the lawsuit and commence the search for a new mascot and nickname starting January.

Vincent Bonventre, a notable professor of law at Albany Law School, commented on the wider implications of the appellate decision. “The fact of the matter is that the state of New York, which is responsible for the school districts, gets to decide what New York state wants to say and what New York state doesn’t want to say,” Bonventre told Newsday. He further explained that the ruling aligns with the U.S. Supreme Court’s “government speech doctrine” and dismissed the notion of a free-speech violation, stating, “When these schools have an indigenous peoples mascot, that is New York state endorsing it.”

This ruling throws a shadow over the pending lawsuits of several Long Island school districts, including Massapequa, Connetquot, Amityville, Wantagh, and Wyandanch, which have similarly sought to retain their Native American-themed mascots and imagery.

The Cambridge district, like many others, had used Native American imagery since the 1950s, with the nickname “Indians.” In a statement, the district expressed its commitment to moving forward, saying, “The Board of Education exhausted all avenues in relation to the mascot issue. The Board is now committed to moving forward in adopting a new mascot.”

The legal journey for Cambridge began after the New York State Board of Regents issued guidance in 2021, encouraging school boards to discuss the unintentional harm caused by Native American imagery. The district’s initial legal challenge was unsuccessful in a lower court, leading to the appeal.

The state Education Department’s decision, backed by anti-bullying and anti-discrimination laws, mandates the discontinuation of Native American mascots, team names, and logos in all school districts by the end of the 2024-25 school year. This policy affects thirteen Long Island school districts and includes consequences like the potential loss of state funding and removal of school officers for non-compliance.

In response, districts like Amityville, which filed its lawsuit last month, and Massapequa, the first to challenge the mandate, have cited significant financial and legal concerns. Massapequa, known as the “Chiefs,” argued that the department’s decision violated the First Amendment and exceeded its authority.

As the debate continues, the recent appellate ruling sets a precedent that could influence the outcomes of similar cases across the state, signaling a shift in the long-standing tradition of using Native American imagery in New York’s educational institutions.