Reid applauds ruling against Redskins

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said a federal court ruling upholding a decision to cancel the Washington team’s trademark was “good news,” but more work was needed.
 
“Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia affirmed what Native Americans have been saying for decades — the Washington football team name is disparaging,” Reid said Thursday. “It is racist and morally objectionable. And it should be changed immediately.”

The Redskins are expected to appeal the decision by the Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, who upheld an earlier ruling by an administrative appeals board.

While Reid said the decision “is good news,” the Democratic leader added, “this battle is not over.”

“The federal government should not protect a team or company that takes pride in bearing a racial slur. But while the ruling is a step in the right direction, this battle is not over,” Reid added. “Ultimately, the responsibility rests with Dan Snyder. The U.S. government cannot change his team’s name — only he can.”
 
Reid has repeatedly criticized the team’s name and earlier this year called on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to “act as swiftly and decisively in changing the name of the D.C. team as he did about not enough air in a football.”
 
Reid added on Thursday that Wednesday’s ruling would prevent Redskins owner Dan Snyder from begin able “to hide behind ‘tradition.'”
 
“Yesterday’s ruling makes clear that his franchise’s name only fosters a tradition of racism, bigotry and intolerance,” he said. “Dan Snyder should do the right thing and change the team name.‎ There’s no place for that kind of tradition in the National Football League. And there’s certainly no place for it in America.”