A Native American group has filed a lawsuit against the Washington Commanders, alleging that the team has erased the ‘Redskins’ identity.
A Native American group filed a lawsuit against the Washington Commanders in federal court today, challenging a prevalent narrative in cancel culture regarding racism in sports.
The Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) lodged accusations of defamation, civil conspiracy, and civil rights violations against the NFL franchise and new owner Josh Harris. Their complaint was filed in the United States District Court of North Dakota, alleging that the Commanders and Harris suppressed Native American history.
This summer, NAGA spearheaded a widely supported petition urging the team to revert to its original Redskins identity, amassing 150,000 signatures. The lawsuit contends that “Commanders” is a name that aligns with oppressors.
The group is seeking $1.6 million in damages and aims for “a seat at the table” to share Native American history, as stated by plaintiff attorney Chad LaVeglia to Fox News Digital.
A spokesperson for the Commanders stated, “We believe the complaint is baseless and will address it in court.”
The complaint also implicates the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), accusing it of contributing to the erasure of Native American imagery and history from public discourse, perpetuating cultural oppression.
According to NAGA, the name “Redskins” holds deep cultural and historical significance, honoring the bravery and resilience associated with Native American culture. They argue that the team’s name and logo, inspired by real historic tribal leaders integral to American history, were obliterated by the NCAI.
Since 1933, the franchise adopted the name Redskins, with their logo from 1972 depicting Chief John Two Guns White Calf of the Blackfoot tribe, whom they regard as a celebrated figure.
