Tom Benjey's Weblog

More has happened regarding the Redskins naming controversy. Former luxury-box owner—can you imagine how much the team lost when she dropped it?—Christina King texted “We just signed the petition from NAGA…We [she and her sister Carolyn Steppe] will come back as suite owners when the name reverts back to the Washington Redskins.“ to Matthew Laux, a premium-seat sales manager. She gave up her suite when previous owner Dan Snyder capitulated by dropping the “Redskins” name in 2020. King stated, “We’re Redskins fans, not Commanders fans. We’re not coming back until the name comes back. They’ve taken these images from sports. They bowed to the woke and they’re trying to erase Native American history.” 

Laux responded, “You understand the people that started this petition is a fake group, right?”

That statement did not sit well with NAGA—Native American Guardians Association. Fullblood Dakota Sioux NAGA President Eunice Davidson responded, “We’re not a fake group. We’re tribal-enrolled members from tribes across the United States.” NAGA had posted an on-line petition to have the team’s name changed back on June 21. It stated, in part:

“The name “Redskins” carries deep cultural, historical, and emotional significance, honoring the bravery, resilience, and warrior spirit associated with Native American culture.

“It was never intended as a derogatory or offensive term but as a symbol of respect and admiration. Changing the name abruptly disregards the positive legacy that the Redskins name has built over the years and disorients the passionate fans who have invested their emotions, time, and unwavering support in the team.”

As of last Monday, August 29, the petition had garnered 128,000 signatures.

The NFL team’s spokesperson stated that Laux does not represent the team.

NAGA co-founder, historian Andre Billeaudeux, author of How the Redskins Got Their Name, stated, “We’re in it to win it….’Toxic ignorance’ has fueled the effort by woke professors and academics to erase Native American history from the nation’s sports and pop-culture lexicon .

Team President Jason Wright responded to a question about the name change, “”It is not being considered. Period.”

More next time on the team’s history.

This entry was posted on September 1, 2023 at 9:38 am and is filed under NFL, Uncategorized, Washington Redskins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.