Leader of NFL players union opposes Washington team's name


The logo for the Change the Mascot campaign

DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, said he opposes the Washington team's racist mascot.

Smith said he has spoken to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and to the team about the name. He called it a symbol of "racial insensitivity."

"As I have stated publicly, though, I do not believe anyone should inflict pain, embarrass or insult, especially given the racial insensitivity of the term ‘Redskin,'" Smith said in a statement to The Washington Post.

The association is the union that represents all NFL players, who have been asked to oppose the team's name.

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