Syosset High School Student Starts Petition to Prevent 'Native American Head' Mural

SYOSSET, NY - A Syosset High School senior recently started an online petition to the school to prevent the painting of a "Native American head" on the student parking lot.

The petition was started on change.org by senior Janvi Pamnani who said the school was planning on creating the mural based on the mascot for the Syosset Braves team in order to "increase school spirit."

"Despite being heavily offensive toward the local Native American communities, Syosset is continuing with this appropriation," Pamnani wrote on the petition. "While school spirit is crucial to the social health of the school, Syosset should not degrade Long Island tribes by dehumanizing them to a mascot, equivalent to bulldogs and bears for other schools."

According to Newsday, a spokeswoman for the district said that administrators were not informed of the plans to paint the mural and did not approve the plan.

Pamnani suggests that a simple "S" or scripted "Syosset" be painted instead of the Native American head.

As of Monday morning, the petition has received a total of 217 signatures.

What do you think?