A Republican state lawmaker wants to repeal a law regulating Indian mascots at Wisconsin schools.
The law passed earlier this year gives the Department of Public Instruction the authority to order schools to remove Indian mascots. State Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) plans to introduce a bill returning that power to local school districts.
Nass says a single citizen or group would still have the ability to oppose the use of an Indian mascot or logo. Instead of taking their case directly to the state though, they would have to appeal to local officials. He says that was the system in place before the state law took effect, and opponents of Indian mascots had seen success in getting them removed that way.
While some find the mascots offensive, Nass argues they are not discriminatory. He compares it to praying around a flag pole on school grounds. He says the courts have already ruled that, while people may object to them, schools are not discriminating against anyone by continuing their use.
Democrats say Republicans were given the majority in the Legislature to focus on creating jobs, not to promote racist policies.