NY State Bans Native American Mascots and Team Names for Schools

The Board of Regents in New York has voted to phase out Native American-related nicknames and imagery from public school teams, requiring nearly 60 school districts to eliminate all use of Indigenous-related mascots and imagery by the end of the 2024-2025 school year or risk losing state aid. The new ban does not apply to tribal schools. The move is part of a national effort to scrub racially insensitive imagery from sports teams, and follows similar bans in 20 other states. Some schools and politicians have criticized the move as prioritizing political correctness over education and history.