WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)— Today Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote to Chairman Fred Upton requesting that – in the wake of NBA owner Don Sterling’s ban for life for racist comments – the Committee hold a hearing to examine another instance of racial insensitivity in sports: the use of the derogatory term “Redskins” as the name of the Washington football team.
In the letter, Rep. Waxman wrote, “this offensive term is being used as the name of one of the most storied teams in the NFL … As the Committee with primary jurisdiction over professional sports, we could play a constructive role in challenging racism by asking Mr. {Daniel} Snyder and Mr. {Roger} Goodell to explain in a public hearing how their actions are consistent with the public interest.”
(Snyder is owner of the Washington Redskins franchise and Goodell is commissioner of the National Football League.–editor)
The full text of Rep. Waxman’s letter is available online here.
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Preceding provided by Congressman Waxman