According to its website, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a “coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States. Through advocacy and outreach to targeted constituencies, The Leadership Conference works toward the goal of a more open and just society – an America as good as its ideals.”
This past Thursday the Conference held its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. and during it, passed a resolution that insisted that the owner of the Washington Redskins, Daniel M. Snyder, change the team’s “offensive name.”
In a press release, the coalition wrote that:
“The resolution notes that using this slur as the team’s name “cannot in any reasonable way be viewed as honoring the culture or historical legacy of any particular Native American tribe or individual.” The coalition called upon the team to “to change its team name, and to refrain from the use of any other images, mascots, or behaviors that are or could be deemed harmful or demeaning to Native American cultures or peoples.”
Wade Henderson, president and CEO; Jacqueline Johnson Pata, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and a vice-chair of the conference and Ray Halbritter, representative of the Oneida Indian Nation all addressed the meeting, urging members to adopt the resolution. All three submitted statements for the press release as well.
Wade specifically alleges that this is not just the team’s problem but is everyone’s. He was quoted as saying:
“Having an offensive slur for the Washington team name teaches young people to celebrate the denigration of people for being who they are. That has a damaging psychic impact on individuals, as well as on the entire nation. Changing the name is the right thing do, regardless of how comfortable fans have become with it. And when Mr. Snyder does decide to put the slur away, I think he’ll discover a new market of consumers who recognize the dignity of all people and want to honor that with the sports teams they support.”
The Redskins responded to the resolution in a press release that reads:
“The Washington Redskins hold these civil rights leaders in high regard, but we respectfully believe they are mischaracterizing decades of honor and respect toward America’s Indian heritage that our name represents for generations of Redskin fans and Native Americans alike.
We understand these leaders hold their views deeply, but so do hundreds and hundreds of Native Americans who have written to us expressing an opposite point of view.
- ‘I am 100% Native American from the Tsimshian Tribe [Alaska]. I back the REDSKINS with all my heart, soul and body… I as a Native American have never had any issues with the name. I have always believed that the Native Americans have lacked any sense of placement in the USA. But the Washington Redskins gives us so much happiness and pride and loyalty to our past.’
– Janine Palma VanDenBerg
- ‘As a LOYAL REDSKINS FAN for over 22 years, and as a NATIVE AMERICAN, I don’t find the name offensive, I would find it offensive if you changed the name, you would be wiping out MY history.’
– Patricia Felt (Iroquois Tribe)
We believe it is important to listen to and respect all sides on this issue, and that includes also listening to and learning from Native Americans and countless Redskin fans who, for generations, believe our name represents the strength, character and pride of our Indian heritage.”
The text of the Leadership Conference’s press release and the resolution in its entirety can be found on its official website.
Hail.
Diane Chesebrough is Chief Editor, writer and photographer for Sports Journey Broadcast Network and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Accredited media with the NFL, she has been a feature writer for several national magazines/periodicals. Follow her on Twitter: @DiChesebrough