ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York’s ban on Native American mascots violates federal civil rights law, according to a formal finding released by the U.S. Department of Education last week. But even though Education Secretary Linda McMahon ordered the state to reverse the ban, education officials rejected their findings on Thursday, calling their reasoning legally flawed and inconsistent.

McMahon delivered the findings during a visit to Massapequa High School on Long Island, home of the "Chiefs," on May 30. She said her Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights concluded that the New York State Education Department and Board of Regents violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, banning race-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. OCR said the state singl

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