A public school district in New York has been found in violation of a federal civil rights law for changing its traditional Native American mascot to comply with state law, the Department of Education announced Thursday.
The Connetquot Central School District in Long Island engaged in discrimination based on race and national origin by abandoning its “Thunderbirds” name for the generic “T-Birds” alternative, the department’s Office for Civil Rights concluded following its investigation. The mascot change was deemed in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Today, we found Connetquot Central School District in violation of Title VI for erasing its Native American heritage to comply with a discriminatory New York state regulation,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. “We will not allow ideologues to decide that some mascots based on national origin are acceptable while others are banned. Equal treatment under the law is non-negotiable.”
Adopted in 2023, the state law banned the use of names, mascots, or logos derived from Native American culture in public schools. Other racial or ethnic groups were not subject to the ban, making the Trump administration’s case that New York unlawfully implemented race- and national-origin-based classifications in education policy.
Last May, the Education Department concluded that the regulation approved by the New York State Education Department and Board of Regents violated Title VI. The civil rights law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded education systems.
The department then opened an investigation into Connetquot Central in July, two months before the school district affirmed compliance with the state law and changed its team name as part of a settlement.
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The Trump administration is offering the district a proposed resolution agreement that requires the return of the “Thunderbirds” name and all associated logos and mascots.
“We expect the District to do the right thing and comply with our resolution agreement to voluntarily resolve its civil rights violation and restore the Thunderbirds’ rightful name,” Richey added. “The Trump Administration will not relent in ensuring that every community is treated equally under the law.”
