Sports
Washington Commanders’ New Logo Criticized by Native American Groups: ‘Disappointing and Inappropriate’
The Washington Commanders’ new logo has sparked backlash among the Native American community.
On Tuesday, April 15, the NFL team debuted a new alternative logo featuring a golden spear that goes through the team’s regular “W” logo in red. According to the post, the spear and letter “interweave at their centers, a powerful joining of past and present.”
The caption to the post adds, “pieces of then and now, tied to one legacy.”
However, the decision to provide any link to the team’s past name and branding has been met with criticism by some Native American organizations, many of whom were instrumental in getting the team to finally change its name and their mascot in 2020.
“The Washington Commanders’ decision to update their logo is disappointing and inappropriate to say the least,’’ the Association on American Indian Affairs said in a statement to USA Today Sports. “It is time to stop repeating this cycle and listen to Native Peoples who have been clear, consistent, and unwavering on this issue: We are not your mascot.’’
Suzan Harjo, a Native American activist who was involved in two lawsuits designed to force the team to change its previous mascot and name, told the outlet that she believes the attempt to link the past to the present is simply a disingenuous effort to appease people who didn’t want the name changed in the first place.
“There are a lot of people in Washington D.C. (and parts of Virginia and Maryland) who really long for the days of the dreaded R-word,’’ Harjo said. “It was a vile name. It was one of the vilest ever.’’
