Ahead of Washington NFL Team's Game in London, Change the Mascot Urges British People to Reject Damaging R-word Name

LONDON, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the lead up to the Washington NFL team's game in London this Sunday, the Change the Mascot campaign is calling on British people to reject the team's derogatory R-word name and mascot, and encouraging UK sports fans to learn the facts about the dangers posed by this damaging epithet.

Change the Mascot leaders NCAI Executive Director Jackie Pata and Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter released the following statement today:

"As the Washington team heads to London this weekend and the NFL seeks to further expand its brand globally throughout Europe, it is critical that we educate people internationally about the demeaning origin of the R-word epithet and the significant harm it causes to Native Americans.  We must do this before people in the UK are unknowingly forced to embrace a dictionary-defined racial slur.

"The world has already seen the damage racism has caused in the sport of soccer. But the British people are in a unique position to halt the R-word racism epidemic from spreading in their country before it becomes institutionalized as it has in the U.S. 

"The stakes are too high for us to remain silent as this degrading slur is exported across the Atlantic. Far from a harmless term - the use of the R-word has proven, significant, damaging consequences for Native Americans, especially children, as well as other people. We encourage sports fans across the Atlantic to reject the R-word slur and stand with us on the right side of history for the good of both of our countries."

The Washington team will play Sunday, October 30 at London's Wembley Stadium as part of the NFL's International Series.

Earlier this year, Commissioner Roger Goodell received letters from British Parliamentarians urging the league to change the offensive name of Washington's franchise, or at least to keep the team's racial slur out of England by sending a replacement team to London. One Member of the House of Commons also co-authored an oped calling on the NFL to end the use of the R-word epithet by the Washington team and similarly urging the league to keep the team's derogatory name out of the UK.

Change the Mascot is a grassroots campaign that works to educate the public about the damaging effects on Native Americans arising from the continued use of the R-word. This civil and human rights movement has helped reshape the debate surrounding the Washington team's name and brought the issue to the forefront of social consciousness. Since its launch, Change the Mascot has garnered support from a diverse coalition of prominent advocates including elected officials from both parties, Native American tribes, sports icons, leading journalists and news publications, civil and human rights organizations and religious leaders.

Contact:
Joel Barkin 
Change the Mascot
[e-mail]
[phone]

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Source: Change the Mascot via Globenewswire