Native American leaders and activists as well as prominent politicians have called for Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to change the name of his NFL team for years. So when the team announced Friday that it will “undergo a thorough review” of the name after several corporate sponsors demanded it be changed, many of those leaders were pleased.
“This moment has been 87 years in the making, and we have reached this moment thanks to decades of tireless efforts by tribal leaders, advocates, citizens and partners to educate America about the origins and meaning of the r-word,” said Fawn Sharp, president of the National Congress of American Indians.
Chuck Hoskin Jr., chief of the Cherokee Nation, called the name review “a start.” In a telephone interview, he described a long fight with not only the Washington franchise but the many high schools that have similar team names and mascots. The fact that an NFL franchise is considering a change that just days ago appeared impossible seemed to inspire him.
“Now my hope is that the dialogue is enriched and those who have been pushing for change have been emboldened and those who have resisted it perhaps reflect on what happened today and reconsider,” Hoskin said.
In October, the day before about 300 people protested the team’s name outside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where Washington was about to play the Minnesota Vikings, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) stood before the House of Representatives and called the name “a racist slur.” On Friday, she questioned why Snyder would need to review the name, asking that it be changed immediately.
“As we celebrate Independence Day, we know that our forefathers were not perfect people, and we’re striving to be a more perfect union,” she said. “It’s time for the NFL to join us in that effort and change the name and mascot.”
McCollum, who chairs the House interior, environment and related agencies subcommittee, said she has “long been offended” by the team name, even before she assumed office in 2001, adding that it has bothered her the way people would not give “a second thought to a racial slur or mascots made towards Native American brothers and sisters.”
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who in 2014 helped lead 50 senators to sign a letter urging the NFL to force a name change, tweeted: “The @NFL does not need to condone a dictionary-defined racial slur to play football. Time for the NFL to be on the right side of history.”
As I’ve said for years, it’s time to stop using this name immediately. The @NFL does not need to condone a dictionary-defined racial slur to play football. Time for the NFL to be on the right side of history. https://t.co/c6FcQWPMRn
— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) July 3, 2020
DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the Washington-based NFL Players Association, told The Post in 2014 that the Redskins’ name conveys “racial insensitivity.” He offered his approval of the team’s decision Friday.
“I expressed my concerns about the team name a long time ago and support this decision,” he wrote on Twitter. “This can be a moment, especially for our city in this time, to take a step towards unity and healing.”
Aside from Redskins Coach Ron Rivera’s team-issued statement Friday in which he said that the issue “is of personal importance to me” and that he looked forward to working with Snyder “to make sure we continue the mission of honoring and supporting Native Americans and our Military,” few current or former players said anything about what might be one of the most significant moments in franchise history.
A current player, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he didn’t want to upset Snyder, said he was “uncomfortable” with the name but wouldn’t elaborate. A former player who has stayed friendly with Snyder and also spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “The name is offensive to Native Americans and should be changed.”
Other current and former players did not respond to calls and messages or declined to comment, with one saying it was an issue only Snyder should address.
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins made reference to the possible name change in a tweet, saying, “I like the redtails” with a thinking emoji.
I like the redtails 🤔 https://t.co/DLSWsUcldp
— Dwayne Haskins, Jr (@dh_simba7) July 3, 2020