Growing-up in the US, you get raised under this grand illusion of how perfect the country is when reality there is an ugly history to its founding. No, the pilgrims and natives didn't have that perfect crayon picture view of Thanksgiving. No, successionist states didn't start the Civil War due to states rights. No, Manifest Destiny wasn't some righteous calling for expansion from God.
Apparently acknowledging these flase-truths and taking efforts to actually learn them is such a threat to conservative ideals. For a group that complains so much about safe spaces or accuses leftist for seeking an utopia, there's so much projection of them literally doing the same in a racist and conservative ideal. The mayor recognizes this and wants those with the opportunity to choose a college athletic department that does as well. Why would you want to represent a state that doesn't even acknowledge your own history?