Schools Displaying Racial Mascots by State
NEW YORK

At 09:00 PM 6/24/98 -0400, you wrote:
June 24, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Robert Eurich

In an action that has statewide ramifications, New York State Commissioner of Education, Richard Mills, has instructed his staff to examine the prolific use of American Indian related sports team tokens by New York State public schools.

Stemming from an appeal that alleged, among other things, that such uses perpetuate stereotypes and historical inaccuracies about American Indian peoples, Commissioner Mills stated in his decision that, "I recognize the seriousness of the issues (raised by the appeal)…and have therefore directed staff to review the matter."

After more than two years of urging an unsympathetic Port Jervis, NY, school district to address the use of its "Red Raiders" nickname and associated American Indian related logos, activist Robert Eurich filed the appeal in 1996.  While the appeal itself was dismissed on the grounds that it failed to show the petitioner suffered "personal damage or injury to his or her civil, personal or property rights" and because he freely acknowledged he is of European descent, Eurich claimed the decision was a victory.

"From the beginning we knew that the appeal had little to no chance of success." Eurich said.  "The appeal's true purpose was as a vehicle to get information in front of Commissioner Mills in the hope he would see the concerns surrounding the prolific use of American Indian related sports team tokens by our State's public schools are valid and important ones.  We are immensely pleased that our faith in Mr. Mills' good judgement and understanding of the issues has been justified."

Eurich, who recently attended the National Conference on the Elimination of Racist Mascots at the University of Illinois, believes that the New York State Education Department will eventually advise school districts using American Indian related sports team tokens to retire them.

"The second largest school district in the United States (Los Angeles) has addressed this issue as has the Dallas, Texas, public schools and the entire States of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Likewise, a very recent development in Washington State has profound national implications." said Eurich.  "In my opinion, if the decision-makers for the schools using these antiquated American Indian related sports team tokens were to show vision and responsibility they would begin instituting proactive measures now to head off future embarrassing controversies and expensive potential lawsuits."
 

American Indian Sports Team Mascots   "Little drops of rain wear away the greatest of stones."

Moves toward the Positive