Lawsuit Challenging School's Native American Mascot Ban Dismissed

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by the Massapequa and Wantagh school districts that challenged the state's ban of Native American mascots.

In her ruling, U.S. Chief Justice Margo Brodie said the districts "lack capacity" to sue the state under the Fourteenth Amendement and other statutes, Newsday reported.

However, Wantagh Superintendent John McNamara said in the statement that they are "disappointed by the court’s ruling that requires Wantagh to move away from its longstanding Warrior nickname."

McNamara said the district is in the process of "reviewing the decision and will explore all available options as we move forward."

In 2023, the state Board of Regents issued guidance banning the use of Native American mascots, team names and logos being displayed in public schools.

Early on, Wantagh made an attempt to save its Warriors nickname, but New York State Education Department has stated that the district is not permitted to do so, " the district said in 2023.

Districts that fail to comply by June 30 are in jeopardy of losing state aid, Newsday said.

Revamping a school's logo is estimated to cost Wantagh more than $650,000.

Two Suffolk County high schools (Half Hollow Hills High School East and Comsewogue High School) agreed to a name change for their athletic programs by dropping the Thunderbirds and Warriors.

In Massapequa, Superintendent William Brennan is still exploring what legal avenues they have at their disposal to save the enduring "Chiefs" name.

"We firmly believe that decisions about our schools should reflect the voices of the people who live here, not be dictated by the state," he said in a open letter on the district's website. "Despite this setback, we remain steadfast in our advocacy and will continue to explore all available options. We will be consulting with legal counsel in the coming days to determine our next steps."