Washington D.C. councilman David Grosso has called the Washington Redskins moniker "derogatory" and "racist" and has called on the organization to rid itself of the name once and for all, according to reports.
Grosso, an independent, said he is planning to introduce a resolution because "it is time to make a change," and he also claimed a majority of councilmembers are on board with him.
A group of Native Americans filed a lawsuit in March that would strip the Redskins of federal trademark protection, which would likely force Redskins owner Daniel Snyder's hand in the matter. This group of people have cited a law that prohibits trademarking names that are disparaging, scandalous, contemptuous or disreputable. According to USA Today, the Redskins were stripped of their trademark rights in 1999, but the case was overturned based on a technicality.
Councilman Grosso has suggested the Redskins change the name of the team to Red Tails, which would honor the Tuskegee Airmen and allow the team's famous fight song, "All Hail the Redskins" to be tweaked and not thrown away altogether. The Redskins would also be able to logically retain their color scheme. In January, Mayor Vincent Gray also urged the team to rid itself of the Redskins name.
In February, the Redskins defended their name on the team website. They also have a defender in Redskins' linebacker Brian Orakpo's high school coach Tom Nolen. "I think it's a great nickname, mascot or whatever you have," Nolen said. "All the traits of a Redskin warrior are certainly something to be admired. I don't understand where people see any negative aspects to it."
Eileen Maxwell, a public affairs director at the National Museum of the American Indian has a different view of the matterr. Maxwell said, "These monikers are very harmful to children. They are the cause of low self-esteem, depression and lower achievement."
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