WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the U.S. Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) urged colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join the momentum of 50 Senators who called on the NFL to endorse a name change for Washington’s football team.
On Thursday, Cantwell and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) led a letter signed by 47 other Senators urging the NFL to take action. The call to action marks the largest Congressional endorsement of a name change for the football team in the nation’s capital. It comes amidst building momentum from Tribes, civil rights organizations, sports leaders and elected officials for the NFL to change Washington’s mascot from a racial slur.
“I’ll be sending a letter to each of my colleagues asking them to either sign onto this letter or to write their own letter,” Cantwell said. “Because I’m convinced that if each member of this body speaks on this issue and is forceful in their resolve, that we can help initiate change.”
The Senators’ letter urged the NFL to follow the example of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in sending a clear message against racism in sports. The Senators pointed to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s swift decision to ban Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling from the league for his racist comments about African-Americans attending basketball games.
