On January 1st, the California Racial Mascots Act went to effect. The first of its kind, the law bans the use of the word "Redskins" in public school team names and mascots. It originated from the argument that students are harmed by the use of words deemed as racist in their educational environment.
As of the beginning of the year, there were 4 schools in the state still employing the term. While the schools have complied with the law, a fight wages on in their surrounding communities to keep the name alive. Unofficial T-shirts and city approved street signs still don the name.
While some in these communities say that no offense is intended and that the name is an integral part of the school's history and community pride, others take offense to its continued use and say that it's explicitly racist again American Indians.
Take Two's A Martinez spoke with Jane Meredith Adams who's covered this matter for EdSource.org.