Bill protecting Indian mascots passes in Tennessee

Friday, May 25, 2007  

A bill protecting Indian mascots from state regulation is headed to the desk of Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D).

The bill was written after school districts complained that they might have to change their Indian mascots. It claims to allow schools the right to "honor certain persons or cultures through the use of symbols, names and mascots."

Bredesen has not said whether he will sign the bill. Indian activists have been lobbying against its passage.

Get the Story:
Bill supporting American Indian mascots on way to governor (AP 5/25)
House Concurs on TN Mascot Bill (The Tanasi Journal 5/24)

Related Stories:
NCAA given 'Muzzle' for Indian mascot policy (04/10)
Pember: Money and influence behind Indian mascots (4/4)
Chief Wahoo won't appear at 'civil rights' game (3/22)
Opinion: 'Indian' mascots perpetuate stereotypes (3/7)
Public school in Massachusetts drops 'Redmen' nick (3/6)
Editorial: Time for all teams to drop Indian mascots (2/27)
Pember: 'Chief Illiniwek' tradition finally dies (2/26)
Column: Not all Native people honored by mascots (2/22)
Column: Mascots disempower Native Americans (2/22)
Opinion: Racism still prevalent in world of sports (11/21)
NCAA announces revised Indian mascot policy (8/8)
Mixed reaction to change in use of mascots (8/8)
NCAA committee to take up Indian mascots (8/3)
TV stations challenged on use of 'Redskins' name (07/22)
Giago: Seminole Tribe wrong on Indian mascots (07/19)
Appeals court keeps 'Redskins' lawsuit alive (07/18)
Opinion: Changing mascots is a waste of time (07/15)
Mascots not only an issue for Native Americans (7/14)
Opinion: It's time for racist mascots to go (7/14)
Seminole Tribe doesn't have problem with mascots (07/05)
NCAA committee won't call for ban on Indian mascots (6/28)
Seminole Nation opposes FSU's 'Seminoles' mascot (6/23)
Seminole Tribe supports FSU's 'Seminoles' mascot (6/21)
Editorial: Not all 'Indian' mascots are offensive (05/31)
Harjo: NCAA should ban all 'Native' imagery (5/27)
FSU defends use of 'Seminole' mascot in NCAA letter (05/17)
Schools defend Indian mascots in reports to NCAA (5/16)
Editorial: UND's 'Fighting Sioux' report not truthful (05/06)
FSU preparing report on use of 'Seminole' mascot (04/29)
Virginia tribe not offended by school's nickname (04/26)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe supports CMU nickname (04/13)
Drunk Student: Chief Illiniwek is not offensive to Natives (04/07)
Group protests university's 'Fighting Sioux' name (03/28)
UNC-Pembroke stands by its 'Braves' nickname (03/09)
UND asked to study 'Fighting Sioux' name again (02/17)