National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Supports DC Mayor in Football Team Name Change

Jan. 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Following a recent press conference, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray voiced his support that if a Washington football team were to return to the District, a serious discussion would have to take place to change the Redskins name and that it was the “right thing.”  The National Indian Gaming Association supports these comments on removing this offensive name.  

The following is a statement from the National Indian Gaming Association Chairman, Ernest L. Stevens, Jr.:

“Our organization would like to publicly thank D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray for his comments and we support the positive discussion of a name change. Washington, D.C. is the capital of this Nation.  The football team's name is an outrageous racial slur that does not represent the team's exceptional sportsmanship or the shining light that the great city represents to nations throughout the world.  

Our Association is proudly headquartered in this town along with other national Native organizations employing many talented American Indians who reside here. While we have a tremendous amount of responsibility to our 184 Member gaming tribes, we would like to recognize that this growing national movement to remove race-based mascots has finally reached the Nation’s capital. What Mayor Gray has said is a giant step in the right direction.”

The National Indian Gaming Association would like to encourage its membership and friends to send a thank you to DC Mayor Vincent Gray.

You may send letters to:

Executive Office of the Mayor Vincent Gray, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 316, Washington, DC 20004

Or send an Email: eom@dc.gov or a Tweet through: @mayorvincegray

For more information on Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports, attend the Smithsonian Museum of American Indian Symposium on Thursday, February 7, 10 am to 5:45 pm EST.

ABOUT National Indian Gaming Association

The National Indian Gaming Association, established in 1985, is a non-profit organization of 184 Indian Nations with other non-voting associate members representing tribes and businesses engaged in tribal gaming enterprises from around the country. The mission of the National Indian Gaming Association is to protect and preserve the general welfare of tribes striving for self-sufficiency through gaming enterprises in Indian Country. To fulfill its mission, our Association works with the Federal government and Congress to develop sound policies and practices and to provide technical assistance and advocacy on gaming-related issues.

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