01:17USA: Redskins - "racist" or "badge of honour"?
USA: Redskins - "racist" or "badge of honour"?
Hundreds of Native Americans and anti-racist campaigners rallied outside Minneapolis' Metrodome stadium on Thursday ahead of the Minnesota Vikings against Washington Redskins match, to protest against Washington Redskins name, which they argue is racist and offensive.
The protesters held banners decrying the "Redskin" team name which they claim demeans native American culture. As one of the organisers said: "It has a tremendous psychological effect on our children, that's why we are standing here today in unity, solidarity - indian people and non-indian - to put a stop to that kind of racism, ignorance and cultural genocide."
Washington D.C. lead council member David Grosso has backed the protests, arguing that the use of 'redskin' is akin to the use of the n-word and offends native Americans across the nation. Ten out of 13 Washington's City Council members voted to change the name of the NFL team. Even Barack Obama encouraged the team's ownership to consider the name change, as it offends "a sizeable group of people."
David Snyder owner of the Washington Redskins, however, has argued that the team name is a "badge of honour", writing to fans that he will not change the name. One of the fans attending the game echoed Snyder's sentiments: "Americans, we think it is a badge of honour just like most people in the country do. We think it is a good thing, not a bad thing."
01:17USA: Redskins - "racist" or "badge of honour"?
Hundreds of Native Americans and anti-racist campaigners rallied outside Minneapolis' Metrodome stadium on Thursday ahead of the Minnesota Vikings against Washington Redskins match, to protest against Washington Redskins name, which they argue is racist and offensive.
The protesters held banners decrying the "Redskin" team name which they claim demeans native American culture. As one of the organisers said: "It has a tremendous psychological effect on our children, that's why we are standing here today in unity, solidarity - indian people and non-indian - to put a stop to that kind of racism, ignorance and cultural genocide."
Washington D.C. lead council member David Grosso has backed the protests, arguing that the use of 'redskin' is akin to the use of the n-word and offends native Americans across the nation. Ten out of 13 Washington's City Council members voted to change the name of the NFL team. Even Barack Obama encouraged the team's ownership to consider the name change, as it offends "a sizeable group of people."
David Snyder owner of the Washington Redskins, however, has argued that the team name is a "badge of honour", writing to fans that he will not change the name. One of the fans attending the game echoed Snyder's sentiments: "Americans, we think it is a badge of honour just like most people in the country do. We think it is a good thing, not a bad thing."