Use of Redskins must end by ’17
California public schools will be barred from using the Redskins name for sports teams and mascots under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown signed.
Only four schools in California still have teams or mascots that use the controversial name – Gustine High in Merced County, Chowchilla High in Madera County, Calaveras High in Calaveras County and Tulare Union in Tulare County.
The legislation, Assembly Bill 30, will prevent public schools from using a term that American Indians regard as offensive, starting in 2017.
Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Watsonville says the name dates from a period in California history when bounty hunters were rewarded for slaying Native Americans and should not be dignified with school affiliations.
Opponents of the bill in Merced and Madera counties, however, have said they do not believe the term is racist or offensive, at least as it has been used by their schools for several generations.
A federal panel ruled last year that the team trademark for the National Football League’s Washington, D.C., team should be canceled, but the organization is challenging the decision.
Brown rejected separate legislation on Sunday that bans naming parks, schools and other public property after Confederate leaders.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Use of Redskins must end by ’17."