Dallas Community Shows Vast Support for Name Change of Washington NFL Team
Protest Planned for Monday, October 27, 2014 at Cowboys Stadium
ARLINGTON, TEXAS—In conjunction with the nationwide Native American grassroots efforts to protest and rally against the Washington football team’s use of the word “Redskin”, Native Americans from the state of Texas and surrounding areas will be gathering on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium to show continual support in urging owner Dan Snyder to change the team’s name. After a successful turnout of about 20 people to a similar event last year, the crowd hopes to reach support upwards of 75 people in participation this year.
The planning of this peaceful protest is a result of the collaborative efforts between the Native American communities nationwide and the organizations headed by Juan Mancias, TribalChairman of the Corrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas and local Native American activist, Yolonda Blue Horse. This is the only branch supporting the nationwide “Change the Name” effort in North Texas and it has continually expanded within the past year as support for the name change has grown.
“To address us with ideas of honor, which are actually defined as derogatory in dictionary is demeaning. We as Tribal people can decide for ourselves what is honorable,” Mancias said regarding the continual argument by pro-Washington supporters that the team name honors and respects indigenous peoples. “We can decide what it is which makes us comfortable,” he added.
With approximately 120 Native American tribes represented in the state of Texas, the Change the Name efforts go hand-in-hand with raising awareness for Indigenous peoples’ rights across the nation. As the communities have come together on other issues, such as the renewed attempt to spread support for the changing of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ day, more and more widespread debates have come about with the backing of factual evidence and voices of people in positions of power.
On the collaborative effort, Yolonda Blue Horse advocates that “when we all stand together as one, we also honor those before us and those to come after us. The continued use of this negative word is not only derogatory, but it is offensive and we demand that the owner, Dan Snyder, stop using this racist word to promote his football organization.”
Very well stated, “…., we can decide what makes us comfortable.”
Yes, we all can decide, and respect one another (if we wanna respect ourselves), just what makes us comfortable.
thank you,
b.
The name Redskin is not offensive. The Washington part is. Its amazing our reservations are inadequate in housing for our people, drugs are rampant and suicide is off the chart. Yet this name change is more important than our people? The government wins again. First, decimation of a proud people and now efforts to forever remove any reference to Native American Indian. If anything, this should be a rallying call to America about our mistreatment by the government!! Redskins unite!!!
The black circle on the image of the M’hicanu Sagamore in this picture is disrespectful. This is the likeness of an historical person, deeply respected by his people.
The name can be changed without disrespecting the people.
We, the Muhheakannuck Nations at Nu Schodack, welcome the controversy regarding the names of certain teams, especially this one which originated in our land. However, we object to ANY DISRESPECT shown our ancestors.