DC Council Unanimously Passes Resolution Calling for Washington Redskins Name Change
As debate continues in various circles over whether the Washington Redskins football team should change their name, the local representatives of the District of Columbia has demanded change.
The Council for the District of Columbia voted unanimously approving a resolution advocating for the National Football League team to change its appellation and mascot.
Approved Tuesday in a vote of 10-0, the resolution called for Washington, D.C.'s team to reconsider its name given how many find it "objectionable."
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"The word 'redskins' is objectionable to many Americans who consider it to be racist and derogatory, and the use of the term is increasingly considered to be insensitive in our multi-cultural society," reads the resolution in part.
"The owner of the Washington NFL team is hereby urged to change the name of the football team to a name that is not offensive to Native Americans or any other ethnic group."
Debate over the moniker for the Washington's football team has gone on for many years, with attention on the issue ebbing and flowing with time.
In May, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder stated that he had no plans to change the name of the team, telling USA Today Sports that he believes that the name has a strong tradition to it.
"As a lifelong Redskins fan, and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it's all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season," said Snyder.
"We'll never change the name…It's that simple. NEVER – you can use caps."
Various individuals, including President Barack Obama, have weighed in on the controversy and have expressed their belief that the team name should be changed to something else.
Groups have tried using the courts to get the DC franchise to change its name, but with little success. For example in 2009 the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from a group of Native Americans regarding the issue.
"None of the judges has commented on whether the Redskins name is offensive or racist, instead holding in favor of the football team on legal technicalities," reported The Associated Press.
In October, the Oneida Indian Nation had a symposium held at the Nation's Capital demanding that Washington "Change the mascot," and a trademark lawsuit's decision against the team is still pending.
"In addition to the federal trademark lawsuit, a group of U.S. lawmakers drafted a bill last spring to cancel trademark registrations that use the name 'Redskins'," wrote Alison Harding of CNN.
"Two of them, Democrats Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, and Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota attended Monday's forum to voice their support."
According to a nationwide poll done by Associated Press-GfK earlier this year, only 11 percent of respondents supported changing the Washington Redskins' team name.
