It argued that the district changed its mascot from the Thunderbirds to the T-Birds “solely because it originates from Native American symbolism.”But the district was only abiding by state rules. In 2022, New York state’s education department prohibited public schools from using Native American logos, mascots or team names without the express approval of a recognized tribe, noting that such references could be seen as demeaning or offensive. The Native American Guardians Association is attempting to stop the Empire State from mandating that the Massapequa School District alter its mascot. In March, he signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which aimed to purge “partisan ideology” from federal sites and combat “historical revision.”Polls from recent years reveal the public is divided over Native American mascots — and what exactly they represent. According to a 2021 Nielsen survey, 30 percent of people aged 16-20 view Native American mascots as “honoring,” while 62 percent of those aged 35 to 54 said the same, illustrating a significant generational gap.