California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill on Sunday prohibiting public schools from using the term "Redskins" as athletic team names, mascots or nicknames, a move hailed by the National Congress of American Indians as a "shining example" for the rest of the country.
With the enactment of AB30, California became the first US state to ban its use, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Native Americans find the use of the term offensive. Brown vetoed a separate bill that would have barred public properties from being named after individuals associated with the Confederacy.
Under the law, beginning Jan. 1, 2017, all public schools are prohibited from using "Redskins" for school or athletic team names, mascots or nicknames.
Public schools may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing the term that were purchased before Jan. 1, 2017.
The measure, authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, will affect four California high schools in Merced, Calaveras, Tulare and Madera counties.
Oneida Indian Nation Rep. Ray Halbritter and National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Jackie Pata of the advocacy group Change the Mascot used the new law to pressure the Washington Redskins, a professional US football team, to change its name. The team has drawn criticism because of its name.
"This landmark legislation eliminating the R-word in California schools clearly demonstrates that this issue is not going away, and that opposition to the Washington team on this issue is only intensifying. The NFL should act immediately to press the team to change the name," the two said.
In rejecting the measure that would prohibit public buildings and parks from using the name of Confederate figures, Brown said the issue is "quintessentially for local decision makers."
"Local governments are laboratories of democracy, which, under most circumstances, are quite capable of deciding for themselves which of their buildings and parks should be named, and after whom," Brown said.
State Sen. Steve Glazer, who introduced the bill, rebuked Brown, saying, "Locals have had decades to remove confederate leaders from places of honour in California. Veto is hollow defence of unacceptable status quo."
