La Crosse County Republican Party Chairman Julian Bradley and liberal columnist Eugene Kane say that the Washington Redskins NFL team should find a new nickname.
Members of the Oneida Indian Tribe of Wisconsin say they’re planning on protesting at Sunday’s Packers-Redskins game in Green Bay. They say the use of the Redskins logo and mascot is offensive to American Indians. The Oneida tribe sponsors one of the entrance gates at Lambeau Field.
Bradley says he’s a native of Baltimore and that he grew up referring to the team as the “’Skins.’” It wasn’t until he got older that he says he realized it was a derogatory term.
“The word ‘negroes’ was a common word at the time and now it’s very offensive,” said Bradley on the “Week in Review” Friday morning. “I think it’s time that Washington and the team catch up to our times and we need to adapt.”
Kane, who also appeared on the program, says he does not refer to the team as the Redskins.
“I think (the ‘Washington pro football team’) is the best way until the owner decides to change it,” said Kane. “I’m glad to see very prominent sportswriters have decided they’re always going to call it the ‘Washington pro football team’ and not that other name.”
Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed to never change the team’s nickname.
