Effort to rid California of ‘racial’ mascots moves forward

Assembly Bill 30 seeks to establish the “California Racial Mascots Act,” that phases out the use of the term “Redskins” as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname in California public schools On Wednesday, the proposal authored by Assembly member Luis Alejo of Salinas, cleared the Senate Education Committee with a vote of 7 to 1.

“California has the largest number of Native Americans in the country, it’s time we as a state take a stand against racial slurs used by our public schools,” says Alejo. “This is part of a national movement and now is the time for us here in California to end the use of this derogatory term in our public schools.”

If signed into law, California will be the first state in the country to pass a law phasing out the use of the term “Redskins” as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname.

“On behalf of the Change the Mascot Campaign, we applaud California’s lawmakers for their leadership and demonstrating their commitment to respecting the rights of Native Americans,” states Ray Halbritter, leader of the national grassroots Change the Mascot campaign. “Assembly member Alejo, who authored this bill, deserves special praise and he has certainly earned our deepest admiration and respect.”

The “R-word” was once used to describe Native Americans scalps sold for a bounty, and current use of the term is widely recognized as a racial slur that promotes discrimination against Native Americans.

“I understand the concerns of the students who attend the affected high schools, and the fear they have in losing their high school identity if this bill is to pass,” states Alejo. “But this is a great opportunity to create a new identity for students, schools, and communities that inspires joy and pride for all students.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, also supports AB 30, “Native American names and images being used as mascots breed insensitivity and misunderstanding about native people, which does harm to both individual students and society as a whole. It also impacts non-natives by reinforcing mainstream stereotypes, preventing learning about Native American culture.”

Assembly Bill 30 will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee where it will be analyzed on its fiscal impact.