USA Today had an informative and well done interview of Kevin Gover, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian. The article discusses that sports teams were establishing Native American mascots in the 1930s at same time that the Federal government was banning Native American traditions and culture and sending Native American children to boarding school where they were coerced to assimilate and discard their culture. What is going on here? Why was America playing Indian in sports while trying to eradicate Native American culture. The collective schizophrenia exhibited by these actions indicate a combination of fascination, shame (for committing genocide), and ownership (we dominate you and now we are going to play you on the sports field). This is why the name of the Washington professional football team is so wrong and anachronistic. If you don't want to listen to me, listen to the Native American expert highlighted in the article. Click here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2016/08/24/real-history-native-american-team-names/89259596/
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This week, the Washington Post inserted itself into the controversy surrounding the name of the Washington professional football team in an audacious, self-serving, and disrespectful manner. Its poll purports to show that the vast majority of Native Americans are not offended by the team's name. But did it consult Native Americans and academic experts in designing and executing the poll? Can the Post be an ubiased referee, considering its relationship with the Washington football team, its business need to report on the team, and its receipt of the team's advertizing dollars? Was the poll journalism or the non-partial reporting of the news or self-promotion to curry favor with the team? And can a poll settle a controversy over a dictionary defined racial slur and attempt to settle Native Americans' struggle for their self-identity and cultural preservation? Does the Post have the right to posit that the poll could influence court cases against the name?
What about the unbiased conclusions of experts: the American Psychological Association released findings in 2005 calling for the permanent discontinuance of Native American mascots based on a large body of scientific research concluding that these mascots are harmful. Can you imagine the impact of mascots on Native American children. RWF has met Native American parents who must bring their kids to school and daily face the insult of the mascots and imagery. The poll will create a perception that the matter is settled. Supporters of the name have been loudly asserting this. But the struggle will continue and the voice of Native Americans will not be silenced. See just one example of a proud people standing up and asserting who they are; this is a post from the Native American Journalists Association: http://www.naja.com/news/m.blog/509/naja-and-unity-respond-to-recent-washington-nfl-team-name-poll RWF is a grassroots group of sports fans. We stand in strong solidarity with Native Americans in the quest to change the name. RWF wrote to the Maryland Department of Transportation (DOT) asking it to ban the R-skins name and logo on license plates. The DOT would have been on solid ground. Federal authorities have declared that the name is offensive. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that the name is not subject to trademark protection "based on the evidence property before us...these (trademark) registrations must be canceled because they were disparaging to Native Americans at the respective times they were registered."
The recent Supreme Court decision would appear to provide additional support to banning the use of R-skins name and logo on state license plates. In Walker v. Texas Div. Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., the Court ruled that messages on license plates are "official" messages of the states, and as such, the states are not required to issue plates that are offensive. Despite the legal support for banning the name and logo, the MD DOT blandly says that the R-skins charitable foundation is a nonprofit eligible for special registration plates. RWF is dissapointed that the MD DOT passed up an opportunity to exhibit some leadership. The letter from the DOT says that Ms. Christine Nizer, MVA Administrator, can answer further questions. She is at 410-768-7274 or on cnizer@mva.maryland.gov. We encourage you to ask further questions! Rep. John Katko (R-NY) becomes the third Republican in Congress to urge the NFL to endorse a name change. He writes, "A mutual love of sports unites tens of millions of Americans across all regions, ethnic groups, income levels, and faiths, However, I believe that the continued use of an ethnic slur as a name for one of the most established teams in the NFL stands in stark contradiction of this unifying tradition, and calls into question the League's values. As a "national" league, the NFL should strive in every way possible to represent all Americans, rather than the commercial interests or convenience of a single team."
Not much to add. Well stated. This needs to become a bipartisan issue...it is a human rights and civil rights issue. See letter here: http://www.onondaganation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Senator_Katko.pdf See more coverage here: http://www.ibtimes.com/redskins-name-controversy-update-congressmans-letter-nfl-commissioner-goodell-cites-2314715 Ian Washburn's family has had season tickets for three generations. In an open letter to Mr. Snyder, Ian describes why he will not be renewing his tickets for next season. Like many of us, Ian reveres tradition and family. Moving on from a tradition that spans three generations is not an easy thing to do. It is a jolt to one's being. One can feel that he does not have any grounding or structure. It is quite emotional. I have heard fans say that if the name is changed, they will not have a tradition to pass along to their children. But sometimes traditions must change, especially if they are no longer morally acceptable. The name of the team is one such tradition. We will still have a team if it has a new name. We will still have the legacy of the great Superbowl teams. Names of teams have changed and the fan base has remained. It is time to shed the tradition of a dictionary defined racial slur and to change the name. We can all do it! See the link below for the letter. Ian has shown moral courage...we must all do the same.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/wp/2016/02/18/a-fans-lament-why-im-quitting-washingtons-football-team/ In the fall, RWF wrote to the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) of the United Kingdom asking them not to use the name of the team when advertizing the game the team will play in London next year. Today, RWF received the DCMS' reply. DCMS basically told us to bugger off. Despite having a mission that includes, "creating a fairer and more equal society, including opening up marriage to same-sex couples," DCMS implies that the name of the team is just fine and agrees with the stance of the "NFL in this matter." The NFL's stance is one of implied consent; it has not asked Mr. Snyder to change the name and did not respond to RWF request's to change the name. Here in the United States, the federal government has decreed that Mr. Snyder cannot play in the nation's capitol and lease the land under RFK until he changes the name. But it is fine for Mr. Snyder to play in London. What a sad irony...so much for the British tradition of civility. By the way, the Wsahington Post editorial page keeps up its drumbeat regarding the need to change the name...see http://wpo.st/Ut741. Maybe the staff of the editorial page should instruct the UK Department for Culture and teach them a thing or two about culture!
In a disappointing move, the NFL and Britain agreed to have the Washington football team play one game and possibly two next year in London. RWF just sent an email to the Department for Culture, Media, and Sports via enquiries@culture.gov.uk. We encourage you to also send an email and tell the agency to ban the use of the name in advertising and marketing. See the text of our letter immediately below.
To Whom it May Concern: I write on behalf of Rebrand Washington Football (RWF). We are a grass roots organization of fans that oppose the name of the Washington professional football team as offensive and a racial slur against Native Americans. We have gathered thousands of petition signatures against the name and will continue working with religous and secular organizations opposed to the name. RWF is quite disappointed with the recent announcement by the National Football League that the Washington pro football team will play one game and possibly two in London next year. A team that has a racial slur as a name and a mascot must not receive international recognition until it changes its name. I am sure that you are aware that the Washington football team lost a trademark case before a Federal judge. The team is appealing the decision. While the appeal is in process, it is particularly inappropriate to host the team and appear to implicitly endorse its trademark. For more information about how and why the team's name is offensive, RWF invites you to watch a video on our webpage of a recent forum and watch a prominent Native American tribal rights attorney and a sports journalist explain why the name is offensive. Our website can be accessed via http://www.rebrandwf.org Since the schedule has been announced and the possibilities of rescinding the invitation for Washington to play in London is remote, RWF asks you to ban the use of the name in public announcements and marketing of the NFL games in London next year. This action would be consistent with the Department for Culture, Media, and Sports' mission. Your website states that your agency is dedicated towards "creating a fairer and more equal society, including opening up marriage to same-sex couples." In this vein, your agency should make a strong statement against names that are racial slurs and use "Washington" instead of the name of the team when marketing the games next year. This would send a strong message to the team and viewers at the game and in the rest of the world. We also ask that your agency issue a statement indicating concerns with the name.RWF looks forward to your reply. We would be eager to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us at rebrandwf@gmail.com. Sincerely, Josh Silver Co-Founder RWF Adidas announced today that it will provide financial support to high schools around the country that have Native American mascots but want to change them. More than 2,000 high schools have these types of mascots. Several high schools may confront financial obstacles in rebranding. Adidas' generous support is a welcome gesture of corporate responsibility.
The Washington football team called Adidas' action hypocritical, pointing out that Adidas profits by selling gear to professional teams with Native themes. President Obama responded to today's news by stating that perhaps Adidas can help a certain professional football team change its name. In order to put the erroneous charge by the Washington football team to rest, we would welcome Adidas' help in persuading the team to change its name. The company certainly applied considerable pressure today, at least in an indirect way. Rebrand Washington Football hopes Adidas continues to apply pressure. See http://wpo.st/UVbl0 for more coverage. Jeb Bush apparently thinks its funny to make a joke on the campaign trail that the name of the football team is not offensive but the name of the town, Washington, is offensive. He berates activists and other stakeholders who have engaged in the time honored tradition of protest and petitioning courts to redress wrongs. Previous blog posts have addressed why it is not an infringement of free speech for a judge to say that the federal government cannot provide copyright protection to an organization's logo that uses a racist name. Mr. Bush also displays an astonishing insensitvity to the core issue: this name is an insult to an ethnic group that also happened to be the first people in North America. The name is an affront to Native Americans and should be offensive to every human being. An insult to one is an insult to all. It is not funny, Mr. Bush, cut it out. See http://wpo.st/VuSh0 for more information about this offensive banter.
Governor Jerry Brown signed into law today a prohibition against public schools using the R-skins name as a mascot and logo. California becomes the first state to enact a law of this type and hopefully other states will follow soon. When the government creates schools or copyrights, it has the right to declare what the schools or copyrights sanction. Some defenders of the name cry that this is an infringement of free speech. But this is separate from free speech rights. In these cases, the government has created something and the government has the right to say what can and cannot be affixed as a name to its creation. It is just like a private corporation saying what its logo and mascot will be. We hope other governments at all levels follow as well as several private sector organizations. The more pressure, the more this stays in the news, the more heat Mr. Snyder will feel to step into the 21st century. As we chant when we gather petitions, "No honor in racism, stop celebrating manifest destiny and genocide. It is time to evolve. Change the name and logo!" See http://time.com/4070615/california-redskins-ban/ for more.
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AuthorJosh Silver is one of the founders of RWF and is a life time fan that wants the name changed! Archives
February 2022
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