Oneida Indian Nation Calls on Washington Redskins to Follow the Courageous Lead of Hall of Fame Players and Consider Dropping Redskins Mascot
Oneida Nation Homelands (PRWEB) July 24, 2013 -- The Oneida Indian Nation is calling on the Washington Redskins football team to follow the courageous lead of Hall of Famers Art Monk and Darrell Green, who this week said the NFL franchise should consider dropping the “Redskins” brand. The Nation thanked Monk and Green for their willingness to speak up about this issue and praised them for championing the American ideals of mutual respect and inclusion.
Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter stated: “I would like to thank and commend Art Monk and Darrell Green for their powerful statements urging the Washington Redskins to consider dropping a mascot that denigrates this country’s indigenous people and promotes ugly stereotypes in a manner that is totally unacceptable in the 21st century. These two football legends have courageously raised an issue that speaks to the American values of fighting prejudice and respecting other cultures.”
“The storied professional careers of Mr. Monk and Mr. Green are inherently tied to the Washington Redskins brand. This makes the decision by them to publicly encourage the team to consider changing the mascot an act of selfless courage that demonstrates that the fight against prejudice is more important than any one individual. As two of the greatest athletes to ever play for Washington's football franchise, Mr. Monk and Mr. Green have added their truly powerful voices to a growing grassroots campaign against the mean-spirited mascot-ization of our indigenous culture.”
“For those of us in Central New York who have long adored our local Syracuse University legend Art Monk, his greatness is nothing new. With his powerful statements about respecting others’ culture, he continues to make this community incredibly proud.”
The Oneida Indian Nation is urging the Washington football team to follow the example of students and administrators from Cooperstown Central School in New York. Earlier this year the school, located near the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, dropped the “Redskins” mascot due to its offensive nature. Following their decision, the Oneida Indian Nation praised the school’s actions and in a display of solidarity and appreciation underwrote the costs of new uniforms for the various sports teams.
The Oneida Indian Nation, located in Upstate New York, has been a close ally of America since even before the founding of the country, fighting alongside George Washington in the Revolutionary War.
Joel Barkin, VP for Communications, Oneida Indian Nation, http://www.oneidaindiannation.com/, 315-829-8310, [email protected]
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