LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- Democrats in Lansing want to make schools get rid of mascots that may be considered racially insensitive.
The legislation would prevent all kinds of potentially racially insensitive monikers – from the Escanaba Eskymos to the Athens Indians.
Some schools say they aren’t racist and the communities have a proud history with these mascots.
Democratic Senator Ian Conyers is a bill sponsor. He says, “I think the control of those appropriations, especially on high school levels, should be up to the people whose heritage is being defined.”
If a school wants to keep a mascot it would have to get a waiver from the state Board of Education and Department of Civil Rights – or risk financial penalties.