“Today, US Secretary of Education visited Massapequa High School, home of the Massapequa Chiefs, to announce that the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has concluded its investigation into the New York Department of Education and the New York State Board of Regents (the Board). OCR determined that the Board has violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by banning the use of Native American mascots and logos by school districts in the state of New York,” says an Education Department press release on the productive use of federal taxpayer time.

“In its investigation, OCR found that the Board of Regents implemented a statewide prohibition on names, mascots, or logos based on Native American race and national origin, but allowed names, mascots, and logos that appear to have been derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the ‘Dutchmen’ and the ‘Huguenots.’ Accordingly, OCR determined that the Board’s policy was discriminatory, and therefore violating Title VI. ‘The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes,’ said US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. ‘Rather than focus on learning outcomes, the New York Department of Education and Board of Regents has set its sights on erasing Massapequa’s history while turning a blind eye to other districts’ mascots that are derived from or connected to other racial or ethnic groups. We will stand with the people of Massapequa until commonsense is restored and justice is served, and until New York comes into compliance with federal law.'”

Here’s a pic of a vehicle Spartan has seen no fewer than three times over the last few years whilst in the town of Massapequa but never personally was able to snap a photo of. Credit goes to Reddit user DinoRoman for this one. Suffice to say whining about “Dutchmen” and “Huguenots” being the mascot of some high schools for mostly white kids and God knows where the hell they are upstate and using that to claim a feathered headdress mascot – not an all an accurate depiction of Long Island’s primarily Lenape native tribes – is very much on brand for Massapequa.