Supporters of Change

Native Nations Unite to Speak Out Against Racially Offensive Mascot Name

More than 30 national Native American organizations across the county have spoken out against the use of the racist R-word as the Washington D.C. National Football League team’s mascot, including the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization, representing about 70 percent of Native Americans (nearly 800,000 people) living on reservations. In addition, United South and Eastern Tribes Inc. (USET), an inter-tribal organization with 26 federally-recognized Tribal Nations representing over 65,000 Native Americans, and over 40 Individual Tribal Governments and leaders have passed resolutions or issued statements condemning the use of the racist term.

United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Passes Resolution “Calling on the National Football League to End the Use of the Washington, D.C. racially offensive slur Team Mascot Name” at annual meeting.

USET is an inter-tribal organization comprised of 26 federally recognized tribes from Maine, to Florida, to Texas. USET represents its member Tribes at the regional and national level, operating through various workgroups and committees, and providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among Tribes, agencies and governments.

The following are letters from several Indian Nations to The Honorable Maria Cantwell, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, expressing strong opposition to the use of the term “Redskins” by the NFL and the Washington team.

NCAI Releases Report on History and Legacy of Washington’s Harmful “Indian” Sports Mascot – click here for more information

WATCH – Native Peoples Speak Out About Native Mascots – a video by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)

National Indian Education Association Resolution 2013-07: Support for Elimination of Race-Based Native Logos, Mascots and Names – click here to read

The Dine Medicine Men’s Assocition, Inc. of the Navajo Nation have passed a Resolution urging President Obama and Congress to act to eliminate racist stereotypes related to sports Mascots in professional sports – click here to read

NATIVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS IN SUPPORT OF CHANGING THE MASCOT

  • National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
  • United South and Eastern Tribes (USET)
  • National Indian Education Association
  • American Indian Sports Team Mascots.org
  • Native American Bar Association of Washington, D.C. – read resolution here
  • Advocates for American Indian Children (California)
  • The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
  • American Indian Mental Health Association (Minnesota)
  • American Indian Movement
  • American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center of San Bernardino County
  • American Indian Student Services at the Ohio State University
  • American Indian High Education Consortium
  • American Indian College Fund
  • Americans for Indian Opportunity
  • Association on American Indian Affairs
  • Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums
  • Buncombe County Native American Inter-tribal Association (North Carolina)
  • Capitol Area Indian Resources
  • Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
  • Comanche Nation of Oklahoma
  • Concerned American Indian Parents (Minnesota)
  • Council for Indigenous North Americans (University of Southern Maine)
  • Eagle and Condor Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance
  • First Peoples Worldwide
  • Fontana Native American Indian Center, Inc.
  • Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board (Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck Reservation)
  • Governor’s Interstate Indian Council
  • Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (Michigan)
  • Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission
  • Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
  • Gun Lake Band of Potawatomi Indians (Michigan)
  • HONOR – Honor Our Neighbors Origins and Rights
  • Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (Composed of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muskogee (Creek), Cherokee, and Seminole Nations)
  • Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
  • Juaneño Band of Mission Indians
  • Kansas Association for Native American Education
  • Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (Michigan)
  • Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs
  • Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians Gun Lake Tribe
  • Medicine Wheel Inter-tribal Association (Louisiana)
  • Menominee Tribe of Indians (Wisconsin)
  • Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
  • Minnesota Indian Education Association
  • National Indian Gaming Association
  • National Coalition of Native American Athletes (NCNAA)
  • National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media
  • National Caucus of Native American State Legislators
  • National Indian Youth Council
  • National Indian Child Welfare Association
  • National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
  • National Native American Law Student Association
  • Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA)
  • Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
  • Native American Caucus of the California Democratic Party
  • Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio
  • Native American Contractors Association
  • Native American Journalists Association
  • Native Voice Network
  • Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs
  • Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (Michigan)
  • North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs
  • North Dakota Indian Education Association
  • Northern Arapaho Business Council
  • Office of Native American Ministry, Diocese of Grand Rapids (Michigan)
  • Ohio Center for Native American Affairs
  • Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
  • Oneida Indian Nation
  • Poarch Band of Creek Indians
  • Rosebud Sioux Tribe
  • Running Strong for American Indian Youth
  • San Bernardino/Riverside Counties Native American Community Council
  • Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
  • Society of Indian Psychologists of the Americas
  • Society of American Indian Government Employees
  • Southern California Indian Center
  • St. Cloud State University – American Indian Center
  • Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Michigan)
  • Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (North Dakota)
  • Tennessee Chapter of the National Coalition for the Preservation of Indigenous Cultures
  • Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs
  • Tennessee Native Veterans Society
  • Tulsa Indian Coaltion Against Racism
  • The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
  • The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation
  • Unified Coalition for American Indian Concerns, Virginia
  • The United Indian Nations of Oklahoma
  • Virginia American Indian Cultural Resource Center
  • Wisconsin Indian Education Association
  • WIEA “Indian” Mascot and Logo Taskforce (Wisconsin)
  • Woodland Indian Community Center-Lansing (Michigan)
  • Youth “Indian” Mascot and Logo Task force (Wisconsin)

Following is a sampling list of sports media professionals, media outlets, elected officials, government agencies and others who have voiced or penned their support for changing the nickname of the NFL’s Washington team or who have stopped using the offensive term ‘redskin.’ For a PDF click here.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

  • President Barack Obama
  • Former US Senator and Secretary of State and Hillary Clinton (D)
  • Senate Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
  • House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
  • Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
  • Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)
  • Del. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (D-AS)
  • Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ)
  • Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
  • Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-CA)
  • Del. Donna M. Christensen (D-VI)
  • Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
  • Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
  • Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
  • Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD)
  • Former Rep. Dan Maffei (NY)
  • Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
  • Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD)
  • Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
  • Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
  • Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
  • Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
  • Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC)
  • Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
  • Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
  • Sen. Barbra Mikulski (D-MD)
  • Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)
  • Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
  • Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO)
  • Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA)
  • Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
  • Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MI)
  • Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
  • Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
  • Sen. Cory Booker (D-CT)
  • Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
  • Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
  • Sen. Angus King (I-ME)
  • Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA)
  • Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
  • Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
  • Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
  • Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)
  • Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
  • Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
  • Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
  • Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
  • Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
  • Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
  • Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV)
  • Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
  • Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
  • Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)
  • Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
  • Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
  • Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
  • Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE)
  • Sen. Bran Schatz (D-HI)
  • Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
  • Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
  • Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI)
  • Sen. John Walsh (D-MT)
  • Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
  • Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
  • Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
  • Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
  • Sen. Joni Tester (D-MT)
  • Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
  • US Attorney General Eric Holder
  • Vincent Gray, Mayor, Washington D.C.
  • The Washington (D.C.) City Council
  • Walter Tejada, Arlington County (VA) Board Chairman
  • Rushern Baker, County Exec., Prince George’s County (MD)
  • Elizabeth Glidden, Minneapolis City Council Member
  • Lisa Goodman, Minneapolis City Council Member
  • Cam Gordon, Minneapolis City Council Member
  • Betsy Hodges, Minneapolis City Council Member
  • Robert Lilligren, Minneapolis City Council Member
  • Gary Schiff, Minneapolis City Council Member
  • St. Paul City Council
  • Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
  • Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
  • Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley
  • Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler
  • Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown
  • Maryland Del. Heather R. Mizeur (D)
  • Maryland Del. C.T. Wilson (D)
  • Maryland Delegate Talmadge Branch (D)
  • Former US Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
  • National Caucus of Native American State Legislators
  • Resolution of the City of Minneapolis, Councilors Cam Gordon, Alondra Cano, Andrew Johnson and Blong Yang – calling on the National Football League and Washington, D.C. Team Owners to Change the Racist Name of the Washington, D.C. Football Franchise
  • Hon. Ralph Caputo, New Jersey State Assembly
  • Hon. Patrick Diegnan, New Jersey State Assembly
  • Assemblymember Luis Alejo, CA
  • State Rep. Joe Salazar, CO
  • State Rep. Jovan Meltan, CO

Legislation

AB-30 California Racial Mascots Act

H.R. 3487 – Respect for Native Americans in Professional Sports Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Eleanor Holmes (D-DC)

H.R.684 – Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2015
Sponsor: Michael Honda (D-CA)

Bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit tax-exempt status to professional sports leagues that promote the use of the term r*dskins 2014
(Cantwell, Reid, Johnson)

New York State Senate Resolution 5966 Condemning the Promotion and Marketing of Dictionary-Defined Racial Slurs as Mascots

RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Members of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Quaker Indian Affairs approved a  formal statement condemning the name of the Washington football team.

Change the Mascot Ad Features D.C. Reverend Who Summoned Support from More than 60 Clergy on Letter to the NFL Opposing Washington Team Name – click here to read the release

  • Rev. Dr. Ianther M. Mills, Senior Pastor, Asbury United Methodist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Myrtle Bowen, Pastor, Galbraith AME Zion Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Leroy Gilbert, Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Washington, DC 
  • Mr. Chuck Hicks, Faith Community Organizer, Washington, DC 
  • Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith, Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Cathy Rion Starr, Director of Social Justice Ministries, All Souls Church – Unitarian, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Dr. Stephen Gentle, Senior Minister, National City Christian Church, Washington, DC 
  • Rev. Thomas Knoll, Pastor, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Dwayne Johnson, Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, DC
  • Rev. Adam Briddell, Asbury United Methodist Church, Washington, DC
  • Terry Lynch, Executive Director, The Downtown Cluster of Congregations, Washington, DC
  • The Rev. Frank G. Dunn, D. Min., Senior Priest, St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, Washington, DC
  • The Rev. Lane Davenport, Rector, Ascension & St. Agnes Episcopal Church, Washington, DC
  • Imam Mahdi Bray, National Director, American Muslim Alliance, Falls Church, VA
  • Rev. Hank Fairman, Little River United Church of Christ, Vienna, VA
  • Alex Vishio, Central Atlantic Conference Board of Directors, United Church of Christ, Baltimore, MD
  • Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler, Senior Minister, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Carolyn Boyd-Clark, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, DC
  • Dr. Carolyn N. Graham, President/CEO, The Elizabeth Ministry, Inc., Washington, DC
  • Maxine Maye, President, Downtown Cluster of Congregations, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Kendrick E Curry, PhD, MDiv, Pastor, The Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Dr. Edwin L. Jones Sr., Senior Pastor, The Living Faith Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Pastor Raymond C. Bell, Senior Pastor, Spirit of Love and Deliverance Baptist Church, Prince Georges County, MD
  • Muhammad Al-Hashimi, PhD, Author, Educator, and International Political Economist representing The Madinah Group for the Study of First Nations, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Dr. John R. Deckenback, Conference Minister, United Church of Christ Central Atlantic Conference, Baltimore, MD
  • Rev. Patricia Fears, Assistant Pastor, Fellowship Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Marvin Owens, Jr., Senior Pastor, Michigan Park Christian Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Donald Robinson, Assistant Pastor, First Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Donald L. Isaac, Executive Director, East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership, Washington, DC
  • Alton B. Pollard, III, Ph.D., Dean, Howard University School of Divinity, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Derrick Harkins, Senior Minister, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Keith Silver, President, Washington DC Southern Christian Leadership Conference
  • Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor, Tikkun Magazine, San Francisco, CA
  • The Rev. Robert M. Hardies, Senior Minister, All Souls Church, Unitarian, Washington, DC
  • Jeff Krehbiel, Pastor, Church of the Pilgrims, Washington, DC
  • The Rev. Randolph C. Charles, D.Min., Rector, The Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC
  • William Aiken, Soka Gakkai International-USA Buddhist Community, Washington, DC
  • Dr. Earl D. Trent Jr., Florida Ave Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • The Rev. Luis Leon, Pastor, St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Dr. Dennis Wiley, Co-Pastor, Covenant Baptist UCC, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Christine Wiley, Co-Pastor, Covenant Baptist UCC, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Dr. Donna M. Butts, The Believe Center for Change, Inc., Takoma Park, MD
  • The Rev. Lucy Brady, Pastor for Children and Youth Ministry, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Westminster, MD                                                   
  • Rev. Sid Fowler, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, DC                                                                                                        
  • Rev. Gail D. McAfee, National Treasurer, Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice – UCC, Shiloh United Church of Christ, Fayetteville, NC
  • Rev. Willie F. Wilson, Senior Pastor, Union Temple Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Roger Gench, Senior Pastor, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC
  • The Rev. Karen Brau, Senior Pastor, Luther Place Memorial Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. John W. Wimberly, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A, Washington, D.C
  • Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, Senior Pastor, Christ our Redeemer AME Church, Washington, DC
  • Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
  • Rev. Dr. Lora F. Hargrove, Assistant Pastor/Executive Minister, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Rockville, MD
  • Rev. Diane Hugger, Pastor, St. John CME Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Miriam Suggs, Pastor, Franklin P. Nash United Methodist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Carmella Jones, Associate Minister, University Baptist Church, College Park, MD
  • Minister Josie Hoover, Westphalia United Methodist Church, Upper Marlboro, MD
  • Rev. Sue Harris, Associate Minister, New Bethel Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Joyce McPhail, Associate Minister, Berean Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Veronica Graves, Associate Minister, Union Wesley AME Zion, Washington, DC
  • Rev. Marjani Dele, Minister of Missions, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Church, Washington, DC
  • Minister Bonnie Burnett, Fellowship Baptist Church, Washington, DC
  • Rabbi Michael Feshbach and Josh Silver
  • Rabbi Aaron Frank
  • Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld
  • Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist
  • Rev. Al Sharpton, Jr. civil rights activist, television talk show host

AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS

The Organization of American Historians approved a resolution calling on the Washington R*dskins to change name, logo

The American Studies Association

American Anthropological Association

American Psychological Association

American Sociological Association

Linguistic Society of America

The Fritz Pollard Alliance – a prominent civil rights organization that works closely with the NFL – has called on the NFL and Washington team to change the R-word mascot name.

Seattle Human Rights Commission Resolution Urging a Name Change for the Washington D.C. N.F.L. Team – read it here

DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association on NBC’s Meet the Press, Feb. 1, 2015: “I think that the right course is to sit down with our fans and let’s really talk about what we love about that team. And if it’s in the best interest of everybody that we not offend anybody, lets make that change.” Watch here.

Sandy Spring Friends School, Maryland

The Society of Professional Journalists and Student Press Law Center, along with 18 other organizations, are urging education leaders to renounce the actions of the Neshaminy School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for punishing student journalist and their advisor for resolving not to use the school’s mascot name, a dictionary-defined racial slur, in its publications.

A list of the organizations involved:

  • The Society of Professional Journalist
  • Student Press Law Center
  • American Copy Editors Society
  • Radio Television Digital news Association
  • Quill and Scroll Inetrnational
  • Honorary Society for High School Journalists
  • Investigative Reporters and Editors
  • The Center for Scholastic Journalism, Kent State University
  • Public Radio News Directors, Inc.
  • National Writers Union
  • Associated Press Media Editors Association
  • Native American Journalists Association
  • The National Federation of Press Women
  • The Journalism Education Association
  • American Society of Business Press Editors
  • Association of Alternative News Media
  • National Scholastic Press Association
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
  • College Media Association
  • National Association of Black Journalists

Petition on MoveOn.org: We Jews call for companies to refuse to make humiliating “redskin” products and if team owner Dan Snyder refuses to change the team name, for the NFL to seize and sell the team.

Several recent studies show that the use of Native American mascots does have serious social effects on Native American communities. Here are some samples:

Chaney, Burke and Burkley (2011)
Do American Indian Mascot = American Indian People? Examining Implicit Bias Towards American Indian People and American Indian Mascots

Kim-Prieto, Okazaki, Goldstein and Kirschner (2009)
Effect of Exposure to an American Indian Mascot on the Tendency to Stereotype a Different Minority Group

Steinfeldt, Foltz, Kaladow, Carlson, Pagano, Benton and Steinfeldt (2010)
Racism in the Electronic Age: Role of Online Forums in Expressing Racial Attitudes About American Indians

LaRocque, McDonald, Weatherly and Ferraro
Indian sports nicknames/logos: affective difference between American Indian and non-Indian college students

Freng and Willis-Esqueda
A question of honor: Chief Wahoo and American Indian stereotype activation among a university based sample

Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights Resolution in opposition to the use of offensive Native American team names and logos within the City of Minneapolis

National Council of La Raza Board of Directors Calls on Washington Football Organization to Change Offensive Name

On October 16, 2015, the executive board of the Maine Counseling Association adopted a resolution entitled “Opposition to Use of Stereotypical Native American Images as Sports Symbols and Mascots.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Inc. – a coaltion of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations – passed a Resoltuon Dec. 12 calling on the NFL’s Washington team to change its name – click here to read

National United Church of Christ passed a Resolution pressing the Washington Football Team to Change its Name and Calling on its more than 1.1 million members to boycott games and merchandise – read more here

United Church of Christ Central Atlantic Conference Passes Resolution Calling for Washington Football Team Name Change and Calls for Member Boycott – read more here

  • Anti Defamation League
  • American Counseling Association
  • American Jewish Committee
  • American Sociological Society
  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • Asian American Journalists Association
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice
  • Associated Students Council of San Diego State University
  • BRIDGES – Building Roads Into Diverse Groups Empowering Students
  • BIG – Blacks in Government
  • Calvert Investment Group
  • Center for Artistic Revolution (CAR) (North Little Rock, AR)
  • Center for the Study of Sports in Society
  • Cincinnati Zapitista Coalition
  • COLOR – Community One Love One Race
  • Committee to End Cultural Genocide (St. Cloud State University)
  • Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
  • HONOR – Honor Our Neighbors Origins and Rights
  • Hutchinson Human Relations Commission
  • Illinois State University Student Government Association
  • Inter-Ethnic Children’s Council (Los Angeles)
  • Inter-Faith Council on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
  • Joint Affinity Groups
  • Latino Children’s Action Council (Los Angeles)
  • League of United Latin American Citizens (National)
  • Mascot Abuse San Francisco Bay Area
  • Michigan Civil Rights Commission
  • Michigan Education Association
  • State of Michigan, State Board of Education
  • Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board
  • Minnesota State Board of Education
  • Modern Language Association
  • The Morning Star Institute
  • NAACP
  • National Association of Black Journalists
  • National Association of Hispanic Journalists
  • National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media
  • National Conference of Christians and Jews
  • National Conference for Community and Justice
  • National Education Association
  • New Hampshire State Board of Education
  • New York State Education Department
  • North Dakota State University Student Senate
  • Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
  • Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative
  • Rainbow Coalition
  • Students Making All Races Tolerant (SMART)
  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference
  • The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
  • Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
  • United Methodist Church
  • United States Commission on Civil Rights
  • United States Black Chambers, Inc.
  • Western North Carolina Citizens for an End to Institutionalized Bigotry
  • Wisconsin State Human Relations Association
  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS

  • Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee), President, Morning Star Institute
  • Amy Trask, former CEO of the Oakland Raiders
  • Alison Owings, author
  • Amanda Blackhorse, Navajo, Social Worker
  • Sally Jewell, US Dept. of Interior Secretary
  • Julian Castro, US Housing Secretary
  • Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education
  • Bob Burns, Blackfeet Elder
  • Cris Collinsworth, former NFL receiver and current sportscaster for NBC, Showtime and the NFL Network
  • Charlene Teters, Spokane
  • Bob Roche, American Indian Education Center
  • Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota, Olympic Gold Medal Winner
  • DaShonne Stokes, Lakota, author
  • Diane Sandage, Professor of sociology and anthropology, Western Illinois University
  • Dr. Michael Friedman, clinical psychologist, member of the Medical Advisory Board of Executive Health Exams (EHE) International and practices psychology in Manhattan
  • Dr. Cornell Pewewardy, University of Kansas
  • Dr. Leo Killsback, Northern Cheyenne Nation of Montana, Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, Arizona State University
  • Dr. Anton Trever, Executive Director of the American Indian Resource Center at Bemidj State University
  • Dr. Lara Carlson, FACSM, CSCS, University of New England
  • Ellen J. Stavrowsky, Ed.D., Ithaca College
  • Geoff Livingston, author, marketing strategist
  • Henok Tekle, MoveOn member
  • Kevin Gover, Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
  • Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League
  • Mark Anthony Rolor, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, author
  • Michael Hardy, General Counsel/EVP, National Action League
  • Sonny Skyhawk, actor
  • Marv Levy, former head football coach of the Buffalo Bills
  • Levi Horn (Cheyenne), former Chicago Bears player
  • Notah Begay III, former PGA TOUR Professional, announcer for the Golf Channel
  • Ted Nolan, Ojibwa, former Buffalo Sabres head coach
  • Thomas G. Smith, author, professor of history, Nichols College
  • Tim Giago, publisher of Native Sun Times
  • Joey Browner, former NFL player
  • Shoni Schimmel, Lousiville Cardinals womans basketball team
  • Stephen Pevar, Attorney, ACLU
  • Ralph Nader
  • Roman Oben, former NFL player
  • John Banzhaf, professor of public interest law at George Washington University
  • Gregg Deal, performance artist
  • Christopher Stuart Taylor, Professor of Black and Canadian History, Race, Gender and Immigration
  • Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute
  • Malcolm Smith, NFL Player and SuperBowl MVP
  • Simon Moya-Smith, writer, Oglala Lakota
  • W. Richard West Jr., Cheyenne, president and chief executive of the Autry National Center of the American West, L.A.
  • Chris Kluwe, former NFL player
  • Blaine Bishop, former NFL player
  • Shane Battier, Miami Heat player (NBA)
  • Champ Bailey, New Orleans Saints player
  • Terry Bradshaw, former NFL player
  • Larry King, talk show host
  • Calvin Hill, former NFL player
  • Lorenzo Alexander, Arizona Cardinals NFL player
  • Gene Simmons, musician
  • Eric W. Kaler, President, University of Minnesota
  • Jim Enote, director of A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center, Zuni, New Mexico
  • Mike Carey, former NFL Official
  • Randall McDaniel, former NFL player
  • Marv Kellum, former NFL player
  • Norbert Hill Jr.
  • Robert A. Yingst
  • Matt Kramer, Co-CEO, Teach for America
  • Jonathan Banks, Actor
  • Olivia Wilde, Actor
  • Howard Stern, Media Personality
  • Ralph Nadar, Activist
  • Drake, Rapper
  • Bad News Barrett, Wrestler
  • Lewis Black, comedian
  • Jeanie Buss, President, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Phil Jackson, President, New York Knicks
  • Arla Patch, Maine-Wabanaki REACH
  • Richard Sherman, NFL player, Seattle Seahawks
  • Jalen Rose, former NBA player
  • Mike Tyson, former heavyweight boxing champion
  • Jonathan Banks, actor
  • Jordan Wright, granddaughter of former team owner George Preston Marshall
  • Bill Wetzel, grandson of Blackie Wetzel, Native American associated with creation of team logo
  • Monica Heller, President, American Anthropological Association

REPORTERS/COLUMNISTS/MEDIA HOSTS

  • Tony Dungy, NBC Sports
  • Phil Simms, CBS Sports
  • Greg Gumbel, CBS Sports
  • James Brown, CBS Sports
  • Peter King, Sports Illustrated, Monday Morning Quarterback, author, National Sports Writer of the Year, 2010
  • Christine Brennan, USA Today
  • Mike Wise, Washington Post
  • Bob Costas, NBC Sports
  • Maureen Dowd, New York Times
  • William C. Rhoden, New York Times
  • David Zirin, The Nation
  • Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune
  • Mike Francesa, WFAN
  • Clinton Yates, Washington Post
  • Steven Gaydos, Variety
  • Mark Purdy, Mercury News Columnist
  • Clyde Hughes, Journal & Courier
  • Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN
  • Bob Glauber, Newsday
  • Bud Poliquin, Syracuse Post Standard
  • Robert Harding, Auburn Citizen
  • Matthew Berry, ESPN
  • Tim Baffoe, CBS local, Chicago
  • Mark Naymik, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland
  • Bill Simmons, Grantland
  • Paul Newberry, AP
  • John Smallwood, Philadelphia Daily News
  • Jack Shafer, Reuters
  • Darko Debogovic, Daily Sundial
  • Sally Jenkins, Washington Post
  • Jillian Berman, Huffington Post
  • Phil Mushnick, New York Post
  • Chris Greenberg, Huffington Post
  • Walt Rubel, Carlsbad Current-Argus
  • Doug Robinson, Deseret News
  • Lawrence O’Donnell, The Last Word, MSNBC
  • Jake O’Donnell, Sports Grid
  • Sarah Kogod, Washington Post-DC Sports Blog
  • Filip Bondy, NY Daily News
  • Tim Marchman, Deadspin
  • Jonathan Weiler, Huffington Post
  • Ty Duffy, Big Lead
  • Kevin Beane, Sports Central
  • Ryan Wooden, Fan Sided
  • Scott Smith, Kokomo Tribune
  • Bob Ray Sanders, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
  • Mark Abley, Montreal Gazette
  • Michael Tomasky, Newsweek, the Daily Beast
  • Jason Keidel, CBS St. Louis
  • Dexter Rogers, Huffington Post
  • Andrew Cohen, The Atlantic
  • Roland Martin, NewsOne
  • Terrell Jermaine Starr, NewsOne
  • Nick Canepa, U-T San Diego
  • Samuel Popper, Silver Chips Online
  • Caillie Millner, San Francisco Chronicle
  • David Ramsey, The Gazette (Colorado Springs)
  • James Arcellana, Bay Area Sports Guy, Winner, CBS San Francisco’s “Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011.”
  • Leo Roth, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
  • DeWayne Wickham, USA Today
  • Joel McNally, expressmilwaukee.com
  • Colbert King, Washington Post
  • Nick Chiles, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author
  • Gerald Carbone, author
  • John R. Andersen, Chippewa Herald
  • Caroline Kelly, columnist, Collegiate Times
  • John McQuaid, Forbes
  • Robert McCartney, columnist, Washington Post
  • David Whettstone, radio talk show host
  • David Dennis, The Guardian
  • Travis Pearson, Torrington Telegram, Wyoming
  • Ishael N. Daro, o.canada.com
  • Jonathan Gardner, Guardian Liberty Voice
  • Matthew Rozsa, political columnist
  • Mario Salazar, Communities Digital News, Montgomery, MD
  • Matt Cohen, DCist
  • Zak Cheney-Rice, Policymic
  • Aine Creedon, nonprofitquarterly.org
  • Chris Hayes, MSNBC
  • Tomas Rios, sportsonearth.com
  • Josh Marks, rantsports.com
  • Chris Strauss, USAToday
  • Brian Feldmen, thewire.com
  • Marc Tracy, newrepublic.com
  • Josh Levin, slate.com
  • Kevin Saito, Rant Sports
  • James Gordon, Ottawa Citizen
  • Dave DeLand, SCTimes
  • Lindsay Brandon, seattlepi.com
  • Roger Chesley, The Virginia-Pilot
  • Tom Sorensen, Charlotte Observer
  • Bucky Gleason, Buffalo News
  • Gerald Ensley, Tallahassee Democrat
  • Zach Mitcham, Madison County Journal
  • Lindsay Czarniak, ESPN
  • Lisa Salters, ESPN
  • Mike MacAdam, Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
  • Brian Beckley, Renton Reporter Editor
  • Scott Simon, NPR Host
  • Cokie Roberts, TV Commentator
  • Gewn Ifill, TV personality
  • Brad Sham, Voice of the Dallas Cowboys
  • Soledad O’Brien, TV personality
  • Jim Rome, National Talk Show Host
  • Michael Wilbon, EPSN
  • Liz Soares, CentralMaine.com
  • Rob Parker, The Shadow League
  • Hub Arkush, ChicagoFootball.com

MEDIA OUTLETS

  • ABC13, Houston, Texas
  • Boston Globe
  • Seattle Times
  • Portland Oregonian
  • Slate
  • Mother Jones
  • The New Republic
  • Washington City Paper
  • Washington Post
  • Philadelphia Daily News
  • Kansas City Star
  • DCist
  • Detroit News
  • The New Republic
  • NY Daily News
  • Grantland.com
  • Utica Observer-Dispatch Editorial Board
  • Indian Country Today Media Network
  • Daily Illini
  • Syracuse New Times
  • Richmond Free Press (VA)
  • Denver Post
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  • Brainerd Dispatch
  • TusconCitizen.com (Mexican-American Times)
  • The Oklahoma Daily
  • St. Cloud Times
  • Orange County Register
  • East Oregonian
  • The Crimson White (University of Alabama Student Newspaper)
  • The Frederick News-Post
  • Walla Walla Union Bulletin
  • Great Falls Tribune (Montana)
  • Magic Valley Times-News (Idaho)
  • The Diamondback, University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper
  • The Bee Group Newspapers
  • Washington Business Journal
  • Battle Creek Inquirer
  • WJIB, WJTO, WFAU, Main/Boston
  • Charlotte Observer
  • HeraldMailMedia.com
  • Post-Bulletin, Rochester, MN
  • The Aurora Sentinel, CO
  • The Sacramento Bee
  • Freeman Courier
  • The Herald-Palladium