State Native American Logo Ban Is 'More Of Cancel Culture': D'Esposito

MASSAPEQUA, NY — While the Massapequa School District has remained quiet since its initial statement in April decrying the state's new guidance on the removal of Native American names and logos from high schools, one lawmaker is speaking about the decision.

Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-Island Park) told Patch, "I think it's more of the cancel culture."

Massapequa has the school nickname of the Chiefs, with a logo showing a Native American in a headdress. School officials were defiant in their lone response, stating in part that the "Board of Regents is overextending its reach and removing our local control."

"[If] you poll Long Islanders, when it comes to what are the things that matter most to them, it's about keeping their family safe and it's about pocketbook issues," D'Esposito said. "Every poll that I've read as an elected official over the last seven years, mascots didn't come up on any of the polls."

The Massapequa Board of Education's April 18 open letter went on to say:

"We are Massapequa and we will not sit idly by while an unelected group of officials tries to remove our history. We are in the process of reviewing the decision and investigating all options with legal counsel."

Wantagh is also mulling its future as the "Warriors." However, the school has taken a more diplomatic tack in addressing the issue.

"We do understand that the current logo may be offensive to indigenous people and that a change needs to be made. We do not want to offend anyone with our logo and will have a process in place to develop a new one," the Board of Education wrote.

The district, though, does not believe the warrior name is offensive as they "would like to retain the nickname and effectively rebrand it."

"Those mascots have been part of school history forever," D'Esposito said. "I don't think that the school chose them to bring any harm or disrespect anyone."

The first-term congressman said there are much more pressing matters, "like keeping us safe, like making sure people can afford to stay on Long Island."