Press Releases

Change the Mascot representatives are standing by ready to take questions about the campaign and the critical importance of a name change for the NFL team in Washington, D.C.

FACT SHEET

Interested members of the press may contact us here.

Press Releases

2/2/22: New Washington NFL Team Name Signifies Hard-Won Victory for Native Americans 1000 online payday loan.

8/6/21: Oneida Indian Nation/Change the Mascot Praises Washington Football Team for Banning Native American-Inspired Headdresses and Face Paint

7/23/21: Oneida Indian Nation/Change the Mascot Commends Cleveland Baseball Team on Step Towards Inclusivity with Name Change

12/14/20: Change the Mascot Applauds Cleveland Team and Major League Baseball for Eliminating Native American Mascot – read more

7/13/20: Oneida Indian Nation, Leader of the Change the Mascot Campaign, Commends NFL and Washington Franchise for Removing R-Word Slur from Team Name and Mascot – read more

7/3/20: Change the Mascot Calls for Immediate Change Following Washington NFL Team Announcement That It Will “Review” Team’s Racist Name and Mascot – read more

7/2/20: Change the Mascot Praises FedEx for Calling on Washington NFL Team to Drop its Racist R-Word Name – read more

6/29/20: Following Mississippi’s Move to Alter Its State Flag, Change the Mascot Urges the NFL to Finally Change the Washington Team’s Racist Name and Mascot – read more

6/26/20: Change the Mascot Praises Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe for Urging NFL Leaders to End Use of Racist Slur for Washington’s Team – read more

6/19/20: Change the Mascot Campaign Applauds Removal of Former Racist NFL Team Owner’s Monument; Urges NFL to Change R-Word Racist Name – read more

2/4/20: Change the Mascot Campaign Calls to Drop Offensive Washington NFL Mascot Following Groundbreaking Study – Press release

2/9/19: Change the Mascot Praises US Lacrosse for Speaking Out Against Native American Mascots – Press release

Change the Mascot Responds to Report of Washington NFL Team Working Stadium Provision into Spending Bill – Press release

Change the Mascot Applauds McGill University Students for Vote to Change Redmen Mascot – Press release

National Congress of American Indians Passes Resolution Opposing Washington NFL Team’s Return to D.C. Until R-word Name is Changed – Press release

Change the Mascot Praises Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for Taking a Strong Stand Against Racist Washington NFL Team Name and Mascot – Press release

Change the Mascot Applauds NFL Player A.J. Francis for Opposing the Name of His Former Team, and Responds to Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Against the Washington NFL Franchise – Press release

Change the Mascot Praises Major League Baseball and Cleveland Franchise for Eliminating Offensive Chief Wahoo Mascot – Press release

Top Civil Rights Organizations Urge Media Not to Use Washington Team’s R-word Name on Thanksgiving – Press release

  • Read the letter to broadcasters here

(6/19/17): National Congress of American Indians and Change the Mascot Respond to Disappointing Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Derogatory Trademark – read more.

(4/20/17): Change the Mascot Expresses Extreme Disappointment Over NFL Decision to Have Washington Team Host First Thanksgiving Game in Franchise History – read more.

(4/13/17): Change the Mascot Commends MLB Commissioner for Call to “Transition Away” from Cleveland’s Native American Logoread more.

(11/23/16) Change the Mascot Decries Use of the R-Word Racial Slur as Thanksgiving Approachesread more

(7/15/16) Change the Mascot Praises Washington Arena Football Team and Owner Ted Leonsis for Selecting Unifying Team Nameread more here

FRIDAY, MAY 27: Media Call with Indian Country Leadership and Top Experts About Ongoing Efforts to End R-word Mascotread more here

  • Credentialed members of the media are invited to participate in the teleconference, which will take place this Friday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern (8:00 a.m. Pacific).

(5/19/16) Change the Mascot Responds to New Poll on Washington NFL Team’s R-Word Nameread more here

(4/26/16) Change the Mascot Responds to Washington NFL Team’s Attempt to Protect Use of R-Word Racial Slur with Supreme Court Special Petitionread more here

(4/20/16) Change the Mascot Praises Colorado State Commission for Calling to Remove All Damaging Native Mascots in Public Schoolsread more here

(3/4/16) Poll: Huge Increase In NFL Fans Who Want Washington To Change Its Team Name – read more here

(2/17/16) Change the Mascot Praises U.S. Congressman John Katko of New York for Speaking Out in Opposition to R-Word Racial Slur – read more here

(1/7/16) Change the Mascot Calls on CBS to Refrain from Using Racist R-Word Name if Washington Team Makes Super Bowlread more here

(12/14/15) Change the Mascot Applauds Central Conference of American Rabbis and Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism for Urging Washington NFL Team to Change R-Word Nameread more here

(11/25/15) Change the Mascot Responds to News That Washington NFL Team Will Play in Londonread more here

(11/23/15) Change the Mascot Praises U.S. Department of Labor’s Center for Civil Rights for Promoting an Inclusive Work Environment Free of the Washington NFL Team’s Offensive R-word Name read more here

(11/19/15) Washington NFL Team Faces New Radio Spot Featuring High School Student Calling for Franchise to Follow California’s Lead and End Use of Racist R-Wordread more

(11/5/15) Change the Mascot Praises Adidas for Momentous Offer to Help End Offensive Native American Mascotsread more

(10/16/15) Change the Mascot Applauds New Anti-Racism Organization of Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and Urges it to Address NFL Team’s Racist R-Word Nameread more here

(10/11/15) California Makes Civil Rights History by Banning R-Word Mascots Statewide in Public Schools read more here

(10/7/15) Change the Mascot Praises Colorado Governor and Lawmakers for Action to Address the Damaging Impact of Native Mascotsread more here

(10/5/15) Change the Mascot Campaign Responds to Donald Trump’s Support of Washington Team Name – read more here

(9/30/15) Change the Mascot Responds to Presidential Candidate Governor Jeb Bush Over His Stated Support for NFL Team’s Racist Name – read more here

(9/10/15) Historic Bill Banning R-word Mascots in Public Schools Overwhelmingly Passes California Assembly and Moves on to Governor’s Deskread more here

(9/9/15) California Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Historic Legislation to Eliminate “R-dskins” from Schools Statewide read more here

(7/28/15) Northern Indiana School the Latest to Drop Offensive R-Word Mascot read more here

(7/14/15) U.S. Housing Secretary Julián Castro Speaks Out Against Offensive Washington NFL Team Name read more here

(7/8/15) Change the Mascot Issues Response to Ruling Ordering Cancellation of R*dskins Trademark read more here

Read the Change the Mascot response to R*dskins Statement on Ruling

(7/1/15) Change the Mascot Statement on Report That Obama Administration is Blocking R*dskins Return to RFK Stadium – read more here

(6/29/15) Change the Mascot Applauds United Church of Christ for Calling on Washington NFL Team to Change Name – read more here

(6/17/15) As Landmark Legislation Banning R-Word Clears Key Committee in California, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Calls Upon Washington NFL Team to Drop Offensive Mascot – read more here

Schools in Oregon, Wisconsin and Oklahoma the Latest to Take Action Against Racist R-Word Mascots read more here

(5/12/15) Change the Mascot Slams Washington Team for Pressuring D.C. Mayor to Slur Native Americansread more here

(5/5/15) Momentum Builds as California Assembly Passes Anti-R-Word Bill and American Studies Association Calls for Name Change of D.C. NFL Teamread more here

(5/1/15) Change the Mascot Campaign Praises Organization of American Historians Call to Change Washington NFL Team’s Name read more here

(4/29/15) Change the Mascot Coalition Applauds California Assembly for Acting to Remove Offensive R-Word from Public Schools Statewideread more here

(3/25/15) Oneida Nation Rep. Ray Halbritter to Speak at Columbia & Harvard on Washington’s NFL Team Name/Native American Empowerment read more here

(3/19/15) Change the Mascot Praises Actions Taken by Conrad Schools of Science to Remove R-Word Nickname – read more here

Change the Mascot Applauds Lancaster School Board Vote to Remove R-Word Nicknameread more here

Change the Mascot Leaders Call on NFL Players Association Executive Director Candidates to Stand Against D.C. Team’s R-Word Mascot read more here

  • Read the letter here

Change the Mascot Campaign Releases Powerful Big Game Ad in Continued Effort to Change the Washington NFL Team’s Offensive Mascot – read more here

National American Indian Leader in Phoenix for Super Bowl; Available for Interviews on Need for R*dskins Name Changeread more here

Change the Mascot Campaign Applauds the Fritz Pollard Alliance for Issuing Clarion Call to the NFL and Washington’s Team to Change the Racist R-Word Nameread more here

Phone Campaign by Washington Football Team Fans Urges Fellow Supporters to Call NFL and Back a Name Change for D.C.’s NFL Teamread more here

New Change the Mascot Campaign Video Recaps Year of Native People Calling For End to R-Word Nameread more here

Change the Mascot Calls on Commissioner Roger Goodell to Adopt Proactive Stance on Racism by Implementing an NFL Owners Code of Conductread more here

Change the Mascot Campaign Praises Oklahoma City School Board Decision to Remove Racist R-Word Mascot from Capitol Hill Highread more here

“Who Will Dan Snyder Bully Next?” Asks New Change the Mascot Ad read more here

New Survey Reveals that Four out of Five Americans Would Be Uncomfortable Calling a Native American a “R*dskin”read more here

Change the Mascot Congratulates Native American Activist Susan Harjo on Selection for the Presidential Medal of Freedomread more here

Change the Mascot Campaign Releases New Ad In MN in Advance of Washington – Vikings Gameread more here

Change the Mascot Releases Statement on Virginia Senate Candidate Ed Gillespie’s Ad in Support of R-Word Racial Slurread more here

During National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, Change the Mascot Urges School Administrators Across America to Ban the R-Word Racial Slurread more here

Change the Mascot Applauds New Jersey Lawmakers for Joining Growing Political Movement Against Washington NFL Team’s R-word Nameread more here

Leader of National Campaign Against the Washington NFL Mascot to Address the Vital Issue at Penn State on October 22read more here

Change the Mascot Calls on NFL’s New VP of Social Responsibility to Clarify Position on Washington Team Name and How it Aligns with League’s Stated Idealsread more here

Change the Mascot Campaign Celebrates New Data Showing Less Use of the R-Word – read more here

Change the Mascot Calls on NFL Owners to Stand Against Washington NFL Team’s Use of R-word Racial Slur read more here

SAVE THE DATE: Change the Mascot Press Conference – Tribal Leaders to Address New Campaign Initiatives Related to D.C. NFL Team During Sept. 16 Press Conferenceread more here

Change the Mascot  Applauds Current and Former FCC Chairs for Calling On Washington NFL Team to Drop Offensive R-Word Mascotread more here

NFL Season Kicks Off with Change the Mascot Ad Urging Public to Take Action Against Washington NFL Team’s Demeaning R-word Nameread more here

Change the Mascot and Diverse Coalition of More Than 100 Groups Urge Radio and T.V. Broadcasters to Cease Use of Washington Team’s Disparaging R-word Name on Airwavesread more here

Change the Mascot Praises The Washington Post for Decision to End its Use of the Washington NFL Team’s Offensive R-Word Name read more here

Change the Mascot Praises Respected NFL Official Mike Carey for Stance Against Washington NFL Team’s Racist R-Word Name – read more here

California State Assembly Calls for the Washington NFL Team to Change its Nameread release here

Native American Leaders to Washington Team Owner Dan Snyder: Yes, We are Offended by Your Team’s Name, and No, We Will Not Be Ignored read here

Change the Mascot Campaign Responds to Washington Team Owner Dan Snyder’s Defense of R*dskins Name – read here

Change the Mascot Campaign Praises Hillary Clinton for Strongly Opposing the Washington NFL Team’s Nameread here

Native American Groups Urge Washington Team Owner Dan Snyder to Stop Claiming Name Change Issue Driven by “Elites” Who Are Not People of Colorread here

Granddaughter of Infamous Washington Team Owner Calls for Team to Change Its Nameread more here

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder the Latest to Join Change the Mascot Campaign in Calling for an End to Washington NFL Team’s Use of R-word Racial Slurread more here 

National Congress of American Indians and the Oneida Indian Nation Statement on Resignation of Washington NFL Team Executive Hired to Defend the R-Word Racial Epithetread more here

Change the Mascot Campaign Releases Statement in Response to BuzzFeed Articleread more here

Oneida Nation, National Congress of American Indians and United Church of Christ React to FedEx Field Section Named for Segregationist George Preston Marshallread more here

Oneida Indian Nation and National Congress of American Indians Praise U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for Canceling Washington NFL Team’s R-Word Trademarkread 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

Yocha Dehe Tribe to Air TV Ad Against R*dskins Name in Seven Major Markets During NBA Championship Gameread more here

Civil Rights Icon and Olympian John Carlos and Former Washington, D.C. NFL Player Tre’ Johnson Speak Out Against the Washington Mascot read more here

Citing Civil Rights History, Groups Ask NFL Players to Oppose Washington NFL Team Name and Join the Change the Mascot Campaignread more here

  • Read the letter to NFL players here
  • Current and former NFL player, coaches and executives in support of change

Oneida Indian Nation and the National Congress of American Indians Praise 50 U.S. Senators for Letter to NFL Urging Change for the D.C. Team’s Mascot read more here

Oneida Leader Commends NFL Star Richard Sherman for Speaking Out Against the Washington Team Name – read more here

Oneida Indian Nation Praises New York Lawmakers for Resolution Calling on Pro Sports Leagues to Stop Using Racial Slurs read more here

New York State Lawmakers to Announce Resolution Calling for Pro Sports Leagues / Teams to Stop Using Racial Slurs
Resolution against slurs, such as “Redsk*ns to be introduced days after the NBA takes laudable stand against Clippers owner Donald Sterling read more here

Oneida Indian Nation Praises NBA for Issuing Lifetime Ban to Los Angeles Clippers Owner Donald Sterling for Racist Remarks click here to read release

Oneida Nation Praises Leading Native American Organizations for Withdrawing Support for Event Sponsored by Washington NFL Team click here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation and National Congress of American Indians Applaud the UN for Condemning the Hurtful Name of Washington’s NFL Team Click here to read the statement

Oneida Indian Nation Statement Regarding Revelations Surrounding the Washington NFL Team’s New FoundationClick here to read statement

Oneida Indian Nation Statement Regarding Foundation Announcement by Washington NFL Team Owner Dan SnyderClick here to read statement

Oneida Indian Nation Praises U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s Rejection of Washington Redskins Product Due to the Derogatory Nature of the R-WordClick here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation Responds to Attempts by Washington’s NFL Team to Discredit its Leadership Over Opposition to the R-Word – Click here to read release

Oneida Nation Praises Maryland Gubernatorial Candidates for Speaking Out Against R-Word Mascot of Washington NFL Team – Click here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation Issues Statement Regarding a Bipartisan Congressional Letter to the NFL Calling for the League to Support Changing the Name of Washington’s Team – Click here to read release

Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter Recognizes U.S. Reps. Tom Cole and Betty McCollum for Supporting Change the Mascot Campaign at Annual USET Conference in Washington, D.C.Click here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation Responds to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s Remarks Defending the Racist Name of Washington’s TeamClick here to read release

Oneida Nation Leader Invited to Meet on Friday with the UN Human Rights Office Regarding the Washington NFL Team’s Racially Insensitive MascotClick here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation Congratulates Washington Cornerback DeAngelo Hall for Calling on his NFL Team to Change Its Name Click here to read release

MLK Day Ad: D.C. Congresswoman and Civil Rights Leader Says Dr. King Would Demand End to Washington NFL Team NameChick here to read release

Decision to Reject “Redskins” as Derogatory by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Lauded by Oneida Indian Nation – Click here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation Ad: Public Outcry Against the R-Word has Made Washington NFL Team’s Season Historic – Click here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation Applauds Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for Opposing D.C. NFL Team Name – Click here to read release

Change the Mascot: Oneida Indian Nation Praises Houston School Board Vote Calling for an End to Racist R-Word Mascots Click here to read the release

Change the Mascot Ad Follows Washington Team to Atlanta with Radio Ads Airing on the Falcons’ Flagship Station Team Name Click here to read the release

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

Video: Native American Leaders Speak Out Against Washington NFL Team’s Mascot – click here to read release

Change the Mascot’s Thanksgiving-Themed ad to Air in Detroit and Baltimore Surrounding Holiday Football Games – click here to read release

Oneida Indian Nation Launches Philadelphia Radio Ad On Sports Icons’ Growing Opposition To Washington NFL Team’s Nameclick here

  • Click here to listen to the radio ad “Legends”

Oneida Indian Nation Praises Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, the St. Paul City Council and Former NFL Player Joey Browner for Demanding Name Change from Washington NFL Team – click here

Minnesota Change the Mascot Ad Condemns the Use of Hate Speech – click here

  • Click here to listen to our latest radio ad “Holdout” to air in Minneapolis, MN

Oneida Indian Nation Praises D.C. City Council for Taking Strong Stand Against Offensive Name of Washington’s NFL Team – click here

  • For a copy of the letter from the Oneida Indian Nation to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dated Oct. 30 click here
  • For a copy of the report by noted psychologist Dr. Michael Friedman click here

Oneida Indian Nation on D.C. Team Name: NFL Must Finally Stop Marketing Hate and Bigotryread release

Change the Mascot Radio Ad Calling for Washington Football Team Name Change to Air in Denver After Being Rejected by D.C. Stations  – click here to read

Oneida Indian Nation Ad Calls on Washington Team Owner to Create Legacy of Tolerance and Mutual Respect for His Team and the NFL click here to read

  • Click here to listen to the radio ad “Legacy”

Oneida Indian Nation Releases Poll Data Showing That a Name Change by Washington’s NFL Team Would Lead to Continued or Strengthened Support for the Team – click here to read

Oneida Indian Nation to Daniel Snyder: Stop Trying to Rewrite History and Instead Rewrite Your Letter to Season Ticket Holders – click here to read

‘Change the Mascot” Ad Highlights Bipartisan Opposition to the Racist Name of Washington’s NFL Team
The Oneida Indian Nation of New York today released its fourth in a series of nationwide radio advertisements – this one featuring audio clips from the past week of President Obama and senior Republican Congressman Tom Cole criticizing the Washington team name. click to read

  • Listen to our radio ad titled “Bipartisan” – click here.

Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter Responds to Washington Team Owner Daniel Snyder
Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter has issued the following statement in response to Washington NFL team owner Daniel Snyder’s letter to fans of the team, in which Snyder discusses the negative reaction to the team’s nickname and mascot. …click here to view.

“Change the Mascot” Campaign Responds to NFL Commissioner’s Comments About the Oneida Indian Nation
Oneida Indian Nation VP for Communications released the following statement after it was reported that Roger Goodell did not call for a meeting with the organizers of the “Change the Mascot” campaign
“When the Oneida Indian Nation received the letter from the NFL, we were heartened to hear that Commissioner Goodell was getting personally involved in this issue after he publicly declared that the league needs to be listening to critics of the Washington team name,” said Oneida Indian Nation Vice President for Communications Joel Barkin. …click here to view

Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter and “Change the Mascot” Campaign to Be Featured on NBC’s “Meet The Press”  Sunday, October 6

NBC News filmed a one-on-one interview with Ray Halbritter on the Oneida Nation’s homelands in Central New York at the Shako:wi Cultural Center

Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter and the Change the Mascot campaign are scheduled to be featured on this morning’s edition of NBC’s Meet The Press, airing at 10:00 a.m. eastern time.  NBC News filmed a one-on-one interview with Halbritter on the Oneida Nation’s homelands in Central New York at the Nation’s Shako:wi Cultural Center.

The interview comes one day after President Obama made supportive comments about the push to change the Washington team’s name. It also comes one day before the Oneida Indian Nation will host a symposium on the subject Monday, October 7th at the NFL Fall League Meeting in Washington, D.C. – click here to view

Oneida Indian Nation Responds to President Obama’s Historic Comments About Washington’s NFL Team Name
The President’s comments come just two days before the Indian Nation’s “Change the Mascot” symposium at the NFL Fall Meeting   
Read the Press Release – click here

Opponents of Racist Washington Football Mascot to Hold Event On-Site at NFL Fall League Meeting
U.S. lawmakers, Native American leaders, public health professionals and student activitists will be among those gathering at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C. to discuss the growing Change the Mascot movement – SEE VIDEO HERE

New Ad: Members of Congress, The Washington Post and Former Oakland Raiders CEO Object to Washington Football Team’s Use of a Disparaging Slur

  • Listen to our third ad titled “Inspire” – click here

As Second Series of Ads Launch, NFL Commish Says D.C. Team “Needs to Be Listening” to Critics

  • Listen to our radio ad titled “Dictionary” – click here

Oneida Indian Nation Launches “Change the Mascot” Ad Campaign Against D.C.’s NFL Team

  • Listen to our first radio ad asking the NFL to change the mascot – click here