The Connetquot Central School District in Long Island received a letter after a federal Office for Civil Rights review found it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The district changed its Native American-themed Thunderbirds nickname to “T-Birds” following a 2023 New York state law banning Native American-inspired names, mascots, and imagery. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said the district had not taken steps needed to comply with federal civil rights law. Federal officials argued the rebranding discriminates by national origin and race because the state ban does not apply the same standard to other racial and ethnic groups. After a legal battle, district officials reached a September compromise with state leaders to shorten the nickname to T-Birds.
"“After the District changed its Native American mascot in response to a state regulation that OCR has determined to be discriminatory, Connetquot has not yet taken the steps necessary to come into compliance with federal civil rights law,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said."
Read at New York Post
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