FedEx criticized for sponsoring Redskins

Virtual Community Calls on ‘Redskins’ Sponsors to ‘Stop Harming Children’Native American organizations and communities from across the country are calling on the Washington NFL team’s corporate sponsors to do what is right for America’s children, and cancel their sponsorship of the Washington football team, starting with Federal Express (FedEx).

This week, the Native Voice Network (NVN), a virtual community of Native American families and organizations, will launch a national public awareness campaign aimed at NFL sponsoring corporations, urging them to end their affiliation with a mascot and nickname that harms children.

“We hope Federal Express and other NFL sponsors are listening,” said Laura Harris, Executive Director of Americans for Indian Opportunity, the organizational host of the NVN.

The campaign will begin with a focus on the Washington team’s primary sponsor–Fed-Ex–and the network is calling on all the NFL corporate sponsors to do what is right for American youth.

Alas, a related tactic hasn't panned out...yet.

Activist shareholders denied vote on FedEx's association with Washington Redskins

By Mark HolanThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has upheld the request by FedEx to block a move by activist shareholders to vote on the company's stadium naming rights association with the Washington Redskins.

The proposal, similar to past unsuccessful efforts, asked the Memphis, Tennessee-based shipping company to allow a discussion and vote on the "reputational damage from its association with the Washington, D.C., NFL franchise team.”

The Oneida Trust of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin was joined by Bethesda-based Calvert Investments, Boston Common Asset Management, Walden Asset Management and Trillium Asset Management in the request.

"We regret that FedEx is censoring our effort to promote an open and productive discussion amongst FedEx shareholders on this critically important issue," Brandon Stevens of the Oneida Tribe said in an emailed statement Tuesday. "It's not too late for FedEx and CEO Fred Smith to do the right thing. They should demonstrate their commitment to diversity and respect for Native American culture and tradition by taking a stand against this racist team name and at the very least allow the proposal to move forward."