The debate over whether to change the Washington Washington Football Team team name is heating up. Later Wednesday, a D.C. councilmember plans to introduce a resolution that calls on the Washington Washington Football Team to change their name. Councilmember David Grosso, an at-large independent, says the name is “racist and derogatory,” adding “it’s time to make a change.” Grosso said a majority of his fellow councilmembers have agreed to co-sponsor the nonbinding resolution. The team’s nickname has been the subject of renewed debate in recent months. A group of Native Americans has launched a new court battle to deny the team federal trademark protection, which would essentially force a name Washington Football Team quarterback Robert Griffin III seemingly weighed in on the debate with this tweet: In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness If we speak..we say it the wrong way If we do not speak we are cowards….” Griffin didn’t clarify whether the tweets were directly related to calls for his team to change their name, but fans are reacting. “Why would you change the name. I don’t see any reason to do it,” said D.C. resident Alan Jones District resident Derrick Coney countered, “If it was offensive to my people, I would have a problem with it, so I don’t see a problem with changing the name…I don’t think this city is going to love this team any less with a different name.” Grosso agrees. His resolution suggests “Redtails” as a new nickname. He says it would honor the Tuskegee Airmen and allow the team to maintain its fight song and color scheme with a few minor changes.
