Bill in Washington outlaws use of racist mascot in public schools

Thursday, January 21, 2016  

Students at Wellpinit High School in Washington. Photo from Facebook

Washington State Sen. John McCoy (D) introduced a bill to outlaw the use of "Redskins" in public schools.

Senate Bill 6190, however, contains an exception for public schools in Indian Country. That would apparently apply to the Wellpinit High School on the Spokane Reservation.

"There are those types of issues, but they chose to keep that name," McCoy, who is a member of the Tulalip Tribes, told KING5 News. "It's just the majority of the rest of the Indian community finds it offensive."

Wellpinit is the only school with a "Redskins" mascot, the station reported. It's fate would be up to the Spokane Tribe if the bill becomes law.

The relevant text of the bill follows:

This section does not apply to a school located within, or with enrollment boundaries that include a portion of, "Indian country," as defined in Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151, if the tribe having regulatory jurisdiction over the territory within that boundary has authorized the use of the school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname through an appropriate enactment or resolution.

Get the Story:
Proposed law would ban 'Redskins' name in schools (KING5 News 1/20)