While the legislation claims that “racially derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames in California public schools is antithetical to the California school mission of providing an equal education to all”, the Redskins (some racial mascots are more equal than others?) remain the lone moniker singled out by name in the bill.
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Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter and National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Jackie Pata praised [Huffington Post report] the bill as an example for other states.
The caller was angry, urging Tulare Union High School to defy a new state law requiring it to drop “Redskins” as the mascot for its sports teams.
“This landmark legislation eliminating the R-word in California schools clearly demonstrates that this issue is not going away, and that opposition to the Washington team name on this issue is only intensifying”.
Brown’s signature on the Racial Mascot Act makes the redskins logo illegal, and the school must change it by Jan, 1, 2017.
It was one of three sports-related bills Brown recently approved.
Historically, “Redskins” referred to the bloodied scalps of Native Americans who were skinned and sold by British colonizers, according to Cherokee and Choctaw writer Baxter Holmes. Native American organizations hail the law as a victory over racism.
“I hope everyone can move forward positively and select a new mascot, inclusive of all students to represent their campus community”, said Dahkota Kicking Bear Brown, a Miwok Indian and a junior at Argonaut High School.
Only four public schools still use the name, including Tulare Union High south of Fresno.
Redskins President Bruce Allen said in August that the team will not consider changing its name, and the team’s owner, Daniel Snyder, previously said he will “never” change the name.
Activists hope the law will put greater pressure on the National Football League team named the Washington Redskins. A few NCAA teams have switched names in recent years, and the NCAA banned the use of American Indian mascots during post-season tournaments starting in 2005.
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Major League Baseball said it supported banning smokeless tobacco when the proposal was introduced earlier this year, but the league didn’t immediately comment on the statewide prohibition.
