It’s a victory for the Chiefs.
New York State plans to repeal part of its statewide ban on Native American imagery in school sports logos, just days before a court battle with a Long Island district challenging the policy.
According to court documents reviewed by The Post, the Board of Regents “intends to repeal” a section of its 2023 mandate barring “school officers and employees” from “utilizing or promoting any Indigenous name, logo, or mascot” on school grounds or at school-sponsored events.
The decision marks a “huge victory” for Massapequa’s school district, which is challenging the ban with support from the Trump administration in an effort to retain its Chiefs name and logo.
“After years of fighting to keep the Chiefs, we’re proud of this victory,” Massapequa Board of Education President Kerry Wachter told The Post.
“We encourage the Board of Regents to take the next step and repeal the regulation in its entirety. Once a Chief, always a Chief.”
The Post contacted the New York State Department of Education for comment.
Massapequa was among several districts that sued New York over the ban, arguing that the state violated civil rights by targeting Native American imagery while imposing no comparable restrictions on imagery associated with other ethnic groups.
Public schools that refused to comply risked losing state funding. Massapequa estimated that replacing its longtime name and logo would cost nearly $1 million.
Other Long Island districts, including neighboring Amityville, which uses the Warriors name, could not afford to pursue litigation as the legal fight stretched from months into years.
Massapequa students have also poked fun at the protracted proceedings. The senior class of 2027 created shirts reading “2till 7he Chiefs!” as the standoff continues.
Legal arguments from both sides are scheduled to begin Nov. 4. Massapequa attorney Oliver Roberts views the planned rollback as an indication of how the case may unfold.
“The State has realized that its attempts to erase Massapequa’s history and tradition are patently unconstitutional,” said Roberts, who was raised in the town.
President Trump pledged in 2025 to “fight” for Chiefs Nation in a Truth Social post declaring, “LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!” He also posed in the Oval Office wearing a Massapequa sweatshirt.
Trump assigned Education Secretary Linda McMahon to investigate the ban. After visiting Massapequa High School in May of that year, McMahon referred civil rights-related findings to the Justice Department.
The anti-woke Native American Guardians Association has also sued New York over the policy and said it is prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court.
The group’s attorney, Chap Petersen, called the measure “the dumbest law of all time” in January.
Republican gubernatorial candidate and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has likewise promised to preserve Massapequa’s name and logo if he is elected.
At a recent Pequa football game, Blakeman taunted Gov. Kathy Hochul by holding Chiefs gear bearing the message, “You tried to take that away from Massapequa – no way.”
The court documents indicate that the Board of Regents intends to formally announce the partial repeal at a November meeting before holding a final vote in February.
