As Assemblyman Tim Leslie sang his Arcadia High School alma mater school song, the State Assembly on June 5th rejected a bill that would bar California public Schools from using Native-American names for their mascots.
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles) has reintroduced her bill to ban the use of Native American names for school mascots. The bill was defeated in the last session, with opposition from the city of Arcadia and the Arcadia Unified School District. The act lists only two tribal names as specifically banned - Apaches and Comanches -- along with terms such as Redskins, Chiefs, Braves and Papooses. Under AB858, the only schools exempted from the ban are those under the regulation of tribal councils.
Assembly bill AB858, also known as the Jerry Ballesteros Act, is now going to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It is a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), calling for a ban on the use of Native American tribal names, specifically Apaches and Comanches, as school mascots. The Arcadia Board of Education opposes the bill. Arcadia leaders say the use of the name Apaches is a gesture of respect. Arcadia High School has a close relationship with the White Mountain Apache tribe, which supports the use of the name. This year's bill is different, in that last year's bill left a small loophole if the name is used respectfully.
Council opposes tribal mascot bill. Arcadia city council voted to oppose AB 2115 or any other legislation that would block Arcadia High School from using the Apache name and mascot.
Attorney Michael Oddenino is seeking $3 million from the Arcadia Unified School District on behalf of his daughter who was yelled at by her coach Don Riggio. Oddenino is suing for assault, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, a civil rights violation and sex discrimination.
Arcadia High School Principal Martin Plourde's attempts at racial sensitivity over the school's use of an Apache mascot have not only left the mascot question unsettled, they have also incensed Los Angeles' Native American community.
Board wants to keep Apache name. The Arcadia Board of Education voted unanimously to oppose AB 2115, a bill that would forbid Arcadia High School from using the Apache mascot.
Arcadia board reaffirms use of Apache name. The school board revisited the issue of the use of the Apache name and symbol by Arcadia High School. Native Americans spoke against using the name Apache but the board concluded that it will retain "Apaches," a name AHS has used since the early 1950s.Article by Ed Spielman