Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray gave the Washington Redskins an ultimatum today: If the team ever wants to relocate back into the city limits the Redskins have to consider a name change.
Gray said:
“I think that if they get serious with the team coming back to Washington, there’s no doubt there’s going to have to be a discussion about that … And of course the team is going to have to work with us around that issue. I think it has become a lightning rod, and I would be love to be able to sit down with the team … and see if a change should be made. There’s a precedent for this, and I think there needs to be a dispassionate discussion about this, and do the right thing.”
Gray said that several teams, including the Washington Bullets (now the Wizards) have change names that were deemed offensive or racist and that the Washington Redskins clearly falls into that category.
The Washington Post notes that the Washington Redskins have been criticized for decades about their racist name. Owner Daniel Snyder, however, has not shown any indications that a Redskins name change is in the works.
Do you think the Washington Redskins should change their name? What should be their new mascot?
