BELIN, WI (WTAQ) - For the second time in a year, a Wisconsin judge has ordered the state not to force a public school to change its Indian nickname and logo. Green Lake County Circuit Judge Mark Slate issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Public Instruction, until he could issue a ruling on whether an order to change the Berlin Indians’ name is constitutional. Five Berlin school district residents challenged the 2010 state law which set up a statewide complaint system for those offended by Indian monikers. The D-P-I ruled that the “Indians” name-and-logo discriminates against Native Americans. The state tried to throw out the lawsuit, saying it should be filed by a school district and not by individual taxpayers. Last year, a Waukesha County judge threw out the D-P-I’s order to have Mukwonago High School change its Indian nickname. The state had ordered three districts to change their team names. The third one – Osseo-Fairchild – complied with the state’s order.


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