Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Native Americans are not the only group offended by the names of sports teams. A bill which has passed the Illinois House would keep schools from using the disabled as sports mascots.

State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) says it’s wrong for Freeburg High School’s teams to be called the Midgets.

Refuting criticism that West’s northern Illinois district is hundreds of miles from Freeburg, near St Louis, he said, “My only advocacy on this is to get rid of this slur because of my own experience. Even as a state representative, I’ve been called a n*****. How does that make you feel?”

Rep Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) represents that district and explains the 1930’s roots of the nickname.

“They had a smaller basketball team many years ago, and a local paper called them the Midgets. And they said, you know what? We’re going to embrace that,” said Schmidt. “We’re small. We’re mighty, and we win. They are very proud of that mascot. They love that mascot.”

Freeburg has been the Midgets for more than ninety years. The bill has passed the House.