Nebraska civil rights committee plans hearings on Native-themed mascots | Omaha State and Regional Information

The gym at Battle Creek High School, home of the Braves.

CHRIS MACHIAN / THE WORLD HERALD

LINCOLN – A state civil rights committee has scheduled a series of public meetings starting Monday to investigate whether or not Native American-themed school mascots are appropriate.

The Nebraska Advisory Committee of the US Civil Rights Commission announced the web-based meetings to discuss the implications of the continued use of Native American names, images and symbols – such as Native Americans and Braves – as school mascots in Nebraska.

The committee will later issue a report on whether the use of such mascots can maintain or exacerbate harassment or a racially hostile learning environment for local students.

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Jonathan Benjamin Alvarado of Omaha, chairman of the committee, said an examination of the matter was long overdue.

The first meeting is scheduled for Monday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Further hearings are scheduled for Wednesday and January 7th from 9:00 am to 10:30 am

To register for one of the meetings, go to the website: https://bit.ly/37v22RG

Call 1-800-360-9505 and enter the access code: 199 788 6470 for audio only for the Monday meeting.

For more information on the Civil Rights Commission, see usccr.gov.

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