In 2014, the debate heats up over one NFL team's name
Washington Redskins logo
Related Links
Poll: Should the Washington Redskins change their name?
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2014 Current Events
The ongoing Washington Redskins name controversy heated up in 2014. On June 18, in a 2-1 decision, the United States Patent and Trademark Office ruled that some of the trademark protections of the Washington Redskins were invalid and stated that the use of the team name "Redskins" constituted an ethnic slur. A month before the ruling, Senator Harry Reid and 49 other Democratic senators asked Goodell to push the Redskins owners to change the name. Attorney General Eric Holder and former Secretary …show more content…
In fact, team officials planned to appeal the decision, stating that they have no intention of changing the name. However, should they not win an appeal and the decision be upheld, counterfeiters could manufacture knockoff Washington Redskins merchandise.
Public Opinion
According to a 2014 Associated Press poll, 14% believed that the team should change its name. In 1992, ABC News ran a similar poll where only 7% said the team should change its name. While support for the name change has increased, but it is still a minority. However, in a recent poll by the Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies at California State University, 67% of Native Americans believed that the “team name was a racial or racist word and symbol.” In the same poll, 32.8% of Caucasians agreed that the team name was racist.
In Sept., the Osage Nation chief asked all tribal employees not to use FedEx until the Redskins change their name. The Redskins play all their home games at FedEx field in Landover, Maryland. "Until the name of the NFL team is changed to something less inflammatory and insulting, I direct all employees to refrain from using FedEx when there is an alternative available," Osage Nation Chief Geoffrey M. Standing Bear wrote in a letter to all …show more content…
The report states that due to the deeply offensive nature of the Washington football team, the team is referred to as “Redsk*ns” or the “R Word” in the report. The report points out several states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Oregon have passed legislature urging or in some cases banning American Indian references used as mascots, team names, or logos. Finally, the report names other professional sports teams continue to profit from harmful stereotypes by using Native American names. Along with the Redskins, the teams named are the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, and the National Hockey League’s Chicago Black Hawks.
On Oct. 12, 2014, Navajo Nation president Ben Shelly was an honored guest of Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Wearing a Redskins hat, Shelly sat next to Snyder in the owner’s box during a game between the Redskins and the Arizona Cardinals. The appearance only raised more debate about the name change. Critics of the name saw it as a blatant PR more. Defenders of the tame name saw it as a public showing of support. However, Shelly has been at odds with his tribal council, a council that voted 9-2 in April 2014, to officially oppose the Redskins name. Moreover, Shelly’s one term as president ends in Jan.
Washington Redskins logo
Related Links
Poll: Should the Washington Redskins change their name?
The NFL Drops the Ball on Domestic Violence
Coming Out While Still in the Game
2014 Current Events
The ongoing Washington Redskins name controversy heated up in 2014. On June 18, in a 2-1 decision, the United States Patent and Trademark Office ruled that some of the trademark protections of the Washington Redskins were invalid and stated that the use of the team name "Redskins" constituted an ethnic slur. A month before the ruling, Senator Harry Reid and 49 other Democratic senators asked Goodell to push the Redskins owners to change the name. Attorney General Eric Holder and former Secretary …show more content…
In fact, team officials planned to appeal the decision, stating that they have no intention of changing the name. However, should they not win an appeal and the decision be upheld, counterfeiters could manufacture knockoff Washington Redskins merchandise.
Public Opinion
According to a 2014 Associated Press poll, 14% believed that the team should change its name. In 1992, ABC News ran a similar poll where only 7% said the team should change its name. While support for the name change has increased, but it is still a minority. However, in a recent poll by the Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies at California State University, 67% of Native Americans believed that the “team name was a racial or racist word and symbol.” In the same poll, 32.8% of Caucasians agreed that the team name was racist.
In Sept., the Osage Nation chief asked all tribal employees not to use FedEx until the Redskins change their name. The Redskins play all their home games at FedEx field in Landover, Maryland. "Until the name of the NFL team is changed to something less inflammatory and insulting, I direct all employees to refrain from using FedEx when there is an alternative available," Osage Nation Chief Geoffrey M. Standing Bear wrote in a letter to all …show more content…
The report states that due to the deeply offensive nature of the Washington football team, the team is referred to as “Redsk*ns” or the “R Word” in the report. The report points out several states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Oregon have passed legislature urging or in some cases banning American Indian references used as mascots, team names, or logos. Finally, the report names other professional sports teams continue to profit from harmful stereotypes by using Native American names. Along with the Redskins, the teams named are the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, and the National Hockey League’s Chicago Black Hawks.
On Oct. 12, 2014, Navajo Nation president Ben Shelly was an honored guest of Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Wearing a Redskins hat, Shelly sat next to Snyder in the owner’s box during a game between the Redskins and the Arizona Cardinals. The appearance only raised more debate about the name change. Critics of the name saw it as a blatant PR more. Defenders of the tame name saw it as a public showing of support. However, Shelly has been at odds with his tribal council, a council that voted 9-2 in April 2014, to officially oppose the Redskins name. Moreover, Shelly’s one term as president ends in Jan.