Local State Rep. Dan Lauwers of the 81st House District is urging the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to rescind a complaint filed with the federal government about the use of school districts using Native American mascots or imagery. The Brockway Township Republican, whose district includes the Capac High School Chiefs, has signed a bi-partisan letter that asks the department to withdraw the complaint, saying that asking the federal government to intervene on the issue is outrageous, especially without first going to local school districts for their opinion on the matter. Several dozen Michigan public schools use Native American-themed mascots or team names, including the Port Huron High School Big Reds. The item is now in the hands of the U.S. Department of Education, and Lauwers says if the federal complaint is successful, state lawmakers will introduce a bill to take money from the Department of Civil Rights budget to fund school districts' expenses related to changing mascots.
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