A Civil Rights Group That Works With The NFL Has Publicly Denounced The 'Redskins' Name

[CherryPanda]

A civil rights group that has worked with the National Football League on diversity issues in the past filed a complaint to the league on Monday over the continued use of the name “Redskins” by the Washington D.C. football team.

The nonprofit Fritz Pollard Alliance (FPA), whose mission statement is to “promote diversity and equality of job opportunity” in the NFL, said in a statement that it issued the complaint after carefully studying the issue and meeting with both sides.

“Over the last year, FPA has had multiple conversations with leaders of the Washington Football Club, including owner Dan Snyder and Club President Bruce Allen, as well as leaders in the Native American community,” Fritz Pollard Alliance Chair John Wooten and Executive Director Harry Carson said in a joint statement obtained by NBC Sports. “Based on our study and conversations, we believe the Washington Club should cease using the name.”

According to the Washington Post, which first reported on the complaint, the FPA tried to discuss the issue with Snyder in August but was “shouted down” by the executive director of a foundation started by Snyder to help Native Americans. The FPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Huffington Post.

Snyder has repeatedly refused to even consider the possibility of changing the name. “We'll never change the name," he told USA Today in 2013. It's that simple. NEVER — you can use caps." The league office has said the decision rests with the team alone.

A Civil Rights Group That Works With The NFL Has Publicly Denounced The Redskins Name

Frankly speaking, I just don’t know why this news bothers me… Even though racial equality is a good thing, and all work on protection different ethnic groups is necessary even today, I feel this particular initiative as wrong… And you?