California Bans Redskins From High School Team Names; the NFL’s Still Totally

The Washington Redskins might not be willing to change their team name, but several schools in California are going to have to change their team name, thanks to a bill that was signed into law on Sunday.

California governor Jerry Brown announced over the weekend that he signed legislation that prohibits public schools in the state from using the name “Redskins”.

California is the first in the nation to enact a statewide ban on the term, although individual school districts, including Houston, Texas, and Madison, Wisconsin have already done so, said Joel Barkin, spokesman for the Oneida Indian Nation in New York state, which has backed the Change the Mascot campaign.

“I hope everyone can move forward positively and select a new mascot, inclusive of all students to represent their campus community”, said Dahkota Kicking Bear Brown, a Miwok Indian and a junior at Argonaut High School.

The push for the ban comes after the death last June of former San Diego Padres All-Star Tony Gwynn, who believed his oral cancer was linked to longtime use of chewing tobacco. These schools will get a grace period of a year and change.

In a statement, he said, “I hope it paves the way for all other states to pass similar laws because nobody’s school or team pride should outweigh a person’s cultural identity…Creating and opportunity for native youth to obtain an education free from mockery and hold their head high with pride in their ethnicity”. “Two of my three children have graduated from here and this is my 25th year at the school”. But recently one mascot in particular has caused controversy, and one state has gone as far as banning a team name.

“I would say somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000, ‘ Weatherby said”. I wanted to graduate as a redskin.

Justin-Siena High School, whose teams play under the Braves name, is a private Catholic institution and not subject to the legislation.

Schools in California have until 2017 to phase out Redskins. “Send them on the Trail of Tears!” he said. “We thought it would be a great educational experience”, Nunley said.

The local Tule River Band of Indians tribal council wrote a letter in support of Tulare Union keeping “Redskins”.