Redskins Name: Harry Reid Wants NFL to Follow in NBA’s Footsteps, Ban Racist Name

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is making headlines for talking about racism again, but this time it has nothing to do with Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy. Instead, Reid says that the NFL should follow...
Redskins Name: Harry Reid Wants NFL to Follow in NBA’s Footsteps, Ban Racist Name
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  • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is making headlines for talking about racism again, but this time it has nothing to do with Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy. Instead, Reid says that the NFL should follow in the NBA’s footsteps and ban racism–this would include the Washington Redskins name, which Reid has long deemed racist.

    After audio of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist rant made waves, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a lifetime ban for Sterling. In addition to the ban, Sterling also faces a $2.5 million fine and will be forced to sell his team.

    While some people have questioned whether Silver should be allowed to ban Sterling and force him to sell his team for comments he made in private, others are applauding Silver’s move because they believe it shows that no racism will be tolerated in the NBA. Senator Reid discussed his support for Silver’s decision and said that the NFL should do the same, particularly where the Washington Redskins name is concerned.

    “Commissioner Silver and the NBA leadership have set the standard for how professional sports organization should act in the face of racism,” Reid said. “How long will the NFL continue to do nothing, zero, as one of its teams bears the name that inflicts so much pain for Native Americans.”

    “It is untoward of Daniel Snyder to try to hide behind tradition,” Reid continued. “Tradition? That’s what he says in refusing to change the name of the team. Tradition? What tradition? A tradition of racism is all that name leaves in its wake…Since Snyder fails to show any leadership, the National Football League should take an assist from the NBA and pick up the slack. It would be a slam dunk.”

    Reid is hardly the first politician to say that the Redskins name should be changed. In fact, it was just last October that President Barack Obama encouraged Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change the team name to something less racially offensive. Snyder hasn’t responded to Reid’s claim that the Redskins name is racist, but Snyder said last October that he had no intentions of changing the name.

    Do you think that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should ban the Washington Redskins name, or do you think that there is no comparison between Sterling’s comments and the Redskins name?

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