SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A monumental bill to ban Illinois schools from using Native American names, logos, and mascots passed out of the House after a controversial debate Thursday.
The plan could apply to schools using the team names Redskins, Braves, Chiefs, Chieftains, Tribe, Indians, or any synonymous term, logo or mascot depicting Native Americans. Feathered headdresses, tomahawks, arrowheads or spears, arrows and other weapons combined with feathers would also be prohibited as logos.
The legislation would also allow schools to use uniforms or other materials with Native American mascots until September 1, 2030 if the school selects a new logo and mascot that does not violate the prohibition and stops selling school merchandise with the racist logo immediately.
Schools whose team name is the name of a federally recognized tribe or historical Native American person could be required to receive written consent from the tribe to continue using the name, logo and mascot. The consent must also include a description of the partnership with the federally recognized tribe to provide deep, meaningful, and substantive learning opportunities as well as school policies that ensure blatant, stereotypical Native American names, slurs, imagery, or caricatures or fake Native American behaviors are not allowed in learning environments.
The written consent must be renewed every five years. If either party chooses to terminate the agreement, schools would have one year to discontinue their use of the native name, logo or mascot.
"It allows school facilities, marquees, signs, and other permanent school structures to be replaced in the normal course of maintenance," said Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford). "This is not a diss towards traditions. This is about uplifting people. That’s what is more important than anything."
However, Republicans argue this change could be an expansive mandate for roughly 90 schools with Native mascots or logos.
"Our communities celebrate these as a representation of our athletics, our courage, and our bravery," said Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville). "And you want to get rid of it because some random person wants to be offended by something. A mascot is revered. It is held up."
House Bill 1237 passed out of the House on a partisan 71-40 vote. It now moves to the Senate for further discussion over the coming weeks.
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