Native Americans Protest Redskins Name At AT&T Stadium
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ARLINGTON (CBS 11 NEWS) - As waves of blue and red march toward AT&T Stadium—for most, all that matters is the tension on the field. But, for a crowd of two dozen or so Native American protestors, the battle is about something bigger.
"I'm about as 'native' as you can get," explained Stephanie Vielle. "I grew up on a reservation, both my parents are Native American… my skin is not red!"
Vielle, a retired Marine and University of Texas at Arlington political science student, says the Washington Redskins name is offensive, derogatory and should be changed. "I spent a lot of time protecting this nation, defending the constitution, and I come home, and the constitution doesn't defend my people."
The protests have followed the Washington Redskins to stadiums around the country.
"Roger Goodell: you need to look at this word and consider this—this is a racial slur," said protestor Yolanda Bluehorse in Arlington Monday. "This isn't the 1960s. It wasn't okay to use the 'n' word then, and it's not okay to use the 'r' word, now."
But, the team's owner has refused to budge.
Fan Michael Radford is more concerned about who wins the game. "I, personally, if it offends somebody, change the name."
But, others have pointed out that until public opinion begins to impact the bottom line—the name won't change. "If sponsorships get pulled, or anything like that, then Mr. Snyder will probably change the name," says Redskins Fan Roger Kerr. [But]" he's already stated that he's not going to change the name."
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