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NOVEMBER 6, 2000

Activists say the campaign to stop or change the use of American Indian as mascots or symbols is gaining more momentum throughout the country, as schools at all levels of education face decisions to change their mascots.

A significant contribution has been the decision by the US Patent and Trademark Office not to renew the trademark of the Washington Redskins. A lawsuit filed by several Indian leaders and educators led to the ruling of the team's name, but not the symbol, as disparaging to Native Americans.

The move to stop use of Crazy Horse's name and likeness on a malt liquor product, however, hasn't been as successful. Although Congress in 1992 passed a law preventing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms from approving the use of the name on any alcoholic beverage, it was ruled unconstitutional.

The family of Crazy Horse has once again sued to stop the use of his name on the product, this time in federal court in South Dakota.

Get the Story:
Opposition to Indian Mascots Grows (AP 11/6)
Crazy Horse descendants sue beer company (The Argus Leader 11/4)

Relevant Links:
The Crazy Horse Defense Fund - crazyhorsedefense.org

Only on Indianz.Com:
Mascots / Logos (The Talking Circle)

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