Native American groups ask NFL to force Redskins name change

Several Native American leers and organizations sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday calling for league to force Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change team name immediately.

letter obtained by Associated Press is signed by 15 Native American vocates. It demands team and NFL cease use of Native American names, imry and logos — with specific importance put on Washington, which last week launched a “thorough review” of its name.

groups “expect NFL to eng in a robust, meaningful reconciliation process with Native American movement leers, tribes, and organizations to repair deces of emotional violence and or serious harms this racist team name has caused to Native Peoples."

NFL did t immediately respond to a mess confirming receipt of letter. Goodell last week expressed support for Snyder's review process of name.

Retired PGA Tour golfer tah Begay, two former executive directors of National Congress of American Indians and several authors and professors signed on to letter, which came same day President Donald Trump criticized Redskins and Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians for considering name changes.

Trump tweeted: "y name teams out of STRENGTH, t weakness, but w Washington Redskins & Cleveland Indians, two fabled sports franchises, look like y are going to be changing ir names in order to be politically correct.”

Snyder h shown willingness to change name since buying team in 1999. Last week, sponsors FedEx, PepsiCo, Nike and Bank of America said y requested change, and several online stores removed team's gear.

FedEx CEO Frederick Smith is a mirity owner, and company is title sponsor of team's stium in Landover, Maryland. sudden flood of sponsors coming out against name prompted organizational review anunced Friday.

“This process allows team to take into account t only proud trition and history of franchise but also input from our alumni, organization, sponsors, National Football League and local community it is proud to represent on and off field,” Snyder said.

death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody in May sparked protests and a nationwide debate on racism. That conversation renewed calls for Snyder to change name called a “dictionary defined racial slur” by Native American vocates and experts.

Im credits: AP