Activists: Vikings stadium should ban "Redskins"

New Vikings stadium may give leverage to opponents of 'Redskins' name and logo

By Tim NelsonA long-simmering controversy over the name of the Washington, D.C., NFL franchise is heading toward the Twin Cities.

Native American groups and supporters say the construction of a new Minnesota Vikings stadium offers a chance to put new pressure on the NFL to rethink the Washington Redskins name and logo.

Opponents, however, aren't appealing directly to the NFL, the Vikings or the Redskins. Instead, they want the state board building Minnesota's new stadium to ban the word Redskins on publicly owned signs or address systems at the new facility as well as one last time in the Metrodome when Washington plays here Nov 7.

"There are literally a score of federal, state, county, municipal laws in effect that all prohibit the offensive R word, just like the N word, from being used in an environment where the public assembles," said Alan Yelsey, an activist who helped make the request to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority.Dispute over Washington Redskins name, logo flares up in Minnesota

By Associated PressMSFA Chair Michele Kelm-Helgen told the Star Tribune the board heard and understood those concerns when they were raised at last week’s meeting but that it’s too early to make a move.

“The NFL has very specific rules about what happens when teams play in our facility, and that’s what we’re looking at with the NFL and our attorneys,” she said. “At this point, I’m not even sure what our options would be.”

Stadium authority spokeswoman Jenn Hathaway said the board may have a formal response next week.AIM Minneapolis Will Protest When Redskins Play Vikings November 7On October 14, two affiliated AIM (American Indian Movement) groups, the AIM of Twin Cities and AIM Patrol of Minneapolis, released a statement condemning the use of the name "Redskins" by the Washington NFL team, and soon thereafter announced plans for a public protest when the team comes to town for a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

For information on the protest, which will occur on Thursday, November 7, visit the event's Facebook page. You can also follow related developments from the Facebook page for AIM of Twin Cities & AIM Patrol of Minneapolis.Meanwhile the Oneida campaign continues:

Group pushing for Redskins name change will air radio ads in Dallas ahead of Sunday’s game

Here's why Indians and other activists oppose mascots:  "Washington Redskins fan Dave Lysinger poses for photographers in the parking lot of FedEx Field before an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Landover, Md., Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013." (Matt Slocum/AP)