'Save The Chief' Fundraiser As Massapequa Files New Lawsuit

MASSAPEQUA, NY — A "Save the Chief" festival fundraiser will take place next month in the Massapequa High School parking lot.

It comes as the school district remains determined to keep its longstanding "Chiefs" name and logo, despite a ban from New York State to drop Native American imagery and nicknames.

All proceeds from the June 7 fundraiser will go toward legal efforts to preserve the Chief name and emblem, a spokesperson for the Town of Oyster Bay said.

“This is more than just a fundraiser — this is a celebration of who we are,” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “The Chief logo represents our heritage, our unity, and our pride. We’re fighting back against a one-size-fits-all mandate that disrespects local values and local voices.”

The battle to save the "Chiefs" made it way to the White House when President Trump posted to Truth Social last month that "forcing them to change the name, after all these years, is ridiculous and in actuality an affront to our great Indian population."

Earlier this week, the Massapequa School District filed an amended complaint in federal court, which introduces seven new legal claims against the state.

The central issue with the New York State regulation is its discriminatory impact on Indigenous peoples, cultures, and traditions, the district said.

"We will not let this happen," the district said in a letter to the community. "Together, we are fighting against New York State’s unjust attempt to single out and erase a group that has profoundly shaped our community’s identity and strength."

Patch attempted to get a comment from the state Department of Education.

In March, a lawsuit filed by Massapequa and Wantagh schools was dismissed for showing a "lack capacity" to sue the state under the Fourteenth Amendment and other statutes, Newsday reported.

"Massapequa stayed silent during the regulatory process. They did not reach out to Indigenous leaders or engage with the Department's Mascot Advisory Committee to determine whether its Native American team name and mascot would be permissible," State DOE spokesperson J.P. O'Hare said at the time. "Instead, Massapequa decided to pursue litigation challenging the state's regulations. Unsurprisingly, these cases have been dismissed."

Community pride, though, remains unwavering.

“The Chief is a symbol of Massapequa’s pride. The Chief is a badge of honor, not just for students, but for everyone in this special community," 2025 Massapequa Class President Billy Sciurba said. "It’s something brought upon an early age, and many dream of the day they are able to represent our town and mascot as they get older."