Gov. Brown to California Schools: No More ‘Redskins’

“As the state with the largest Native American population, I am proud to have authored this legislation and applaud Governor Brown for taking a stand against racial slurs used by our public schools”.

However, Brown decided that “local decision-makers” should choose names for schools and parks.

The mascot legislation signed Sunday will prevent public schools from using a term that American Indians regard as offensive and goes into effect in 2017. Public schools in California depending on tax dollars can not afford such defiance.

Four schools are now using the name and will have to change it by then: Calaveras High School, Chowchilla Union High School, Gustine High School and Tulare Union High School, according to USA Today. But it’s an important step for those who say the nickname is a racial slur against American Indians. Last May they got one in San Francisco, home of the reigning World Series champion Giants. Removing it and the name will be paid for by the school district.

Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Watsonville, who sponsored the bill, said the term “redskins” dates from a period in California history when bounty hunters were rewarded for slaying Native Americans and should not be dignified with school affiliations. That ends January 1, 2017 for signs, yearbook covers, newspaper logos, program illustrations and, for the most part, team or band uniforms.

“We will adhere to the law as it is written”, Sarah Koligian, superintendent of Tulare Joint Union High School District, said in a statement Monday.

Junior football player Joseph Celli is Indian. “I’m not offended by it”, Seals said. “I’ve never had anybody complain to me about the Redskin mascot”.

But how do native tribes in Calaveras County feels about the mascot change? They place pinches of tobacco between their lip and gum. The order comes after legislation failed earlier this year at the Colorado Legislature, which would have limited Native American mascots at public schools.

High schools, colleges even professional teams are feeling the pressure.

He recalled his cousin crying after a football game during which a female student dressed up as “Pocahottie” while other students pretended to prepare to burn her at the stake. If they don’t have a problem how can we be causing offense? He said he was “ecstatic”.