Dear District 16 Delegation:
I am a constituent of yours and also a co-founder of Rebrand Washington Football (RWF), a grassroots organization asking Mr. Snyder to change the name of the team. I am writing to ask you to oppose efforts by Mr. Snyder to allow gambling at his sports venue as described in today's Washington Post. Gambling debases sports and would threaten to compromise the integrity of the team by encouraging cheating and score rigging. It is not the role model for children I would want as a parent.
In addition, the name of the team is a dictionary defined racial slur. Native American mascots and racial stereotypes demean Native Americans and distort the views of non-Natives regarding the character and worth of Native Americans. RWF reviewed the literature and recently wrote a white paper describing the psychological and sociological harm of Native American mascots. In addition, a new survey found that most Native Americans do not approve of these mascots. Psychology professors conducted the new survey with scientific methods, in contrast to the Washington Post poll of a few years ago.
We are at a moment where the public sector has maximum leverage. Before any jurisdiction approves of a new or refurbished stadium for Mr. Snyder certain conditions must be met: 1) he changes the name of the team, 2) a stadium rebuild or new construction is completed without public subsidies, and 3) no gambling is permitted. The Kennedy Administration ensured that the first owner of the team integrate his team before being allowed to play on the RFK site. We are now at a similar moment regarding human and civil rights. Please work to secure these conditions from Mr. Snyder if he wants to continue playing in Maryland.
Sincerely,
Josh Silver
Co-Founder
Rebrand Washington Football
Resident of Bethesda MD in District 16