New York Bans Native American Mascots in Public Schools

Calls to retire Native American-themed mascots and logos in high schools have been met with resistance from supporters who argue that they are central to the traditions and identity of their communities. While some states have moved to ban such imagery outright, others have faced intense backlash. New York state's Board of Regents voted that Native American-themed logos and mascots must be retired by 2025 unless schools get approval from a recognized Native American tribe to keep them, risking losing state funding. Mascots are causing "firestorms at the local level," and removing them can result in a backlash.