Long Island School District Faces DOJ Probe Over Logo Ban
A Long Island school district has been referred to the Justice Department for allegedly violating federal civil rights law by changing its Thunderbirds mascot under a state ban on Native American imagery.
The Connetquot Central School District received a formal letter Friday after federal investigators with the Office for Civil Rights concluded the district breached Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it replaced its longtime Thunderbirds nickname with “T-Birds,” according to New York Post.
Kimberly Richey, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, said the district has failed to take necessary corrective action after changing its Native American mascot in response to what her office has determined to be a discriminatory state regulation.
It is neither fair nor lawful to permit certain national-origin-based names and mascots while erasing others, Richey stated, announcing the referral to the Department of Justice for additional enforcement action.
She emphasized that the Trump Administration maintains its commitment to ensuring equal treatment under federal law.
The mascot change occurred last year as the district worked to comply with a 2023 New York state law that banned Native American-themed names, mascots and imagery across educational institutions. Following legal challenges, Connetquot officials negotiated a settlement with state authorities in September to shorten the team nickname to T-Birds, as New York Post reports.
Federal civil rights officials have now challenged that compromise, arguing the rebranding constitutes discrimination based on national origin and race. The state ban does not apply equivalent standards to mascots and imagery associated with other racial or ethnic groups, investigators determined.
The letter delivered to the Suffolk County school district stated that based on review of publicly available information, the Office for Civil Rights has determined the district is not in compliance with Title VI and related federal regulations.
The Department has formally requested that the DOJ initiate judicial proceedings against the district for violating Title VI protections.
The Connetquot Central School District did not immediately provide comment to New York Post regarding the federal referral.
With information from New York Post
