01/23/26 12:48:00
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01/23 12:47 CST New York school violated civil rights law by changing name from
?Thunderbirds' to ?T-Birds,' US says
New York school violated civil rights law by changing name from ?Thunderbirds'
to ?T-Birds,' US says
BOHEMIA, N.Y. (AP) --- A New York school district is "erasing its Native
American heritage" and violating civil rights law by changing its team name
from the "Thunderbirds" to the "T-Birds," federal education officials say.
The U.S. Department of Education said Thursday that the Connetquot Central
School District can voluntarily resolve the federal law violation by restoring
the "rightful" Thunderbirds' name.
The Long Island district, like others in the state, changed its team name in
order to comply with state regulations banning Native American sports names and
mascots.
But federal education officials argue the state mandate violates civil rights
law because it allows schools to continue using names derived from other racial
or ethnic groups, such as the "Dutchmen" and "Huguenots."
"We will not allow ideologues to decide that some mascots based on national
origin are acceptable while others are banned," said Kimberly Richey, who heads
the Education Department's civil rights office. "The Trump Administration will
not relent in ensuring that every community is treated equally under the law."
The school district said it is reviewing the federal finding, but state
education officials excoriated it, saying the conclusion "makes a mockery" of
the nation's civil rights laws.
"USDOE has offered no explanation as to whose civil rights were violated by
changing a team name from Thunderbirds to T-birds," JP O'Hare, spokesperson for
the agency, said in a statement Friday. "NYSED remains committed to ending the
use of harmful, outdated, and offensive depictions of Indigenous people."
The state education department and the school district reached an agreement
last year in which Connetquot would be allowed to use the "T-Birds" name and
related imagery such as an eagle, thunderbolt or lightning bolt, in exchange
for dropping its legal challenge to the state's Native American mascot ban.
Native American advocates say the "Thunderbird" is a mythical creature often
depicted as a powerful spirit and benevolent protector in many indigenous
traditions.
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