The Connetquot Central School District on Long Island has been referred to the Department of Justice for a possible violation of federal civil rights laws. This followed a federal review finding that its decision to replace the Native American-inspired Thunderbirds mascot with the abbreviated “T-Birds” nickname discriminated on the basis of national origin and race.
The school district’s mascot change was prompted by a 2023 New York state law banning Native American names, mascots, and imagery in public schools. Despite complying with the state law through rebranding, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) determined that the district’s actions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin.
Federal officials criticized the district for applying the ban unevenly, allowing certain racially or ethnically based mascots while erasing others tied to Native American heritage. They noted that the district had not taken sufficient steps to align its actions with federal civil rights requirements. As a result, the federal government has asked the Department of Justice to initiate judicial proceedings against Connetquot for the alleged violation.
The district reached a compromise with state authorities last year to shorten the controversial “Thunderbirds” mascot to “T-Birds” following a legal dispute. However, OCR concluded that this change continued to discriminate against Native American representation and did not meet fairness standards outlined in Title VI.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey highlighted the injustice of permitting some racially based mascots while prohibiting others. She emphasized the federal government’s commitment to enforcing equal treatment under the law, describing the discriminatory ban as neither fair nor lawful.
The Connetquot Central School District has yet to respond publicly to the allegations or the Department of Justice referral.