Bill in Maryland urges new name for Washington football team

Wednesday, March 12, 2014  

A Maryland House committee held a hearing on a bill that calls on the Washington professional football team to change its racist mascot.

House Joint Resolution 5 says the name of the team is "disparaging" to Native Americans. It urges the team to change it to something that is not offensive.

"Everybody in this room has some pejorative or epithet that can be called against you because of your nationality, your race, your religion. It’s hurtful. And it is hurtful to Native American children," Rico Newman, the director of the Maryland Indian Tourism Association, told lawmakers, The Washington Post reported.

The team plays at a facility in Maryland.

Get the Story:
Maryland delegates propose resolution urging Redskins to change team name (The Washington Post 3/12)

ThinkProgress: Sen. Cantwell hosted meeting on racist mascot (3/11)
Churches propose boycott of Washington team for racist mascot (03/03)