Schools
Massapequa Votes To Comply With Native American Mascot Ban
The district said they are keeping its legal options open to maintain the Chief name and logo.
MASSAPEQUA, NY — The Massapequa School District voted on Thursday to comply with state's Native American mascot ban, while they work on any legal challenge to maintain the "Chief" name and/or logo.
The Massapequa School District has been silent since an April 18 open letter detailing why the chief is an intrinsic part of the community.
"It is no secret the Chief logo is not just an image. It is Massapequa's history and has been adopted by more than just our school district," they wrote on Friday.
Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Massapequa produced a four-minute, 40-second video on YouTube that highlights the school slogan, "Once a Chief, Always a Chief."
It's a travelogue of the community with a mix of speakers. One youngster said being a Massapequa Chief means "being loyal and committed to hard work. There's no better way to describe the people of Massapequa."
Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
William Colfer, Vice President of the Historical Society of Massapequa said in the video: "The history of Massapequa is strongly connected to our Indian forefathers."
The district said the next step will follow litigation.
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