The Vikings host the Washington Redskins in three weeks and the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union doesn’t want to hear or see the Redskins nickname anywhere.
Charles Samuelson, ACLU executive director, had this message for the Pioneer Press.
“The name, logo and mascot are racist imagery that does not honor anyone, but instead perpetuate stereotypes that are particularly hurtful and offensive given the history of forced assimilation and brutality that Native Americans were forced to endure in Minnesota and throughout the country.”
The ACLU is instead requesting that the Vikings, Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and all Minnesotans refer to the team as “Washington.”
The MSFA is expected to discuss the issue at a meeting Friday. The Vikings play Washington on national television, Thursday, Nov. 7.
Bob Costas used the halftime show of Sunday Night Football on NBC a couple of weeks ago to address the nickname issue. He called the nickname an “insult” and a “slur.”
The National American Congress for Native Americans recently published photos of hats with sports logos that it feels puts the Redskins nickname into context.
