Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) complained on the floor of the upper chamber today that America is more concerned with Tom Brady’s delfating balls than the Washington Redskins’ racist name.
Brady received a four-game suspension as a result of “Deflategate” and the New England Patriots were fine d $1 million and stripped of two draft picks.
“Yesterday the National Football League punished one of its most recognizable players for allegedly having tampered with game balls,” Reid said.
“I find it stunning that the NFL is more concerned about how much air is in a ball than with a racist franchise name that denigrates Native Americans across our country. The Redskins name is a racist name,” he continued.
“So I wish the Commissioner would act as swiftly and decisively in changing the name of the Washington, D.C. team, as he did enforcing how much air is in the football.”
Last summer, Reid sent a letter to Redskins president Bruce Allen, who had invited the senator to attend a game.
“During my time in the United States Senate, I have worked to right many of the injustices endured by Americans throughout the country. Among the most egregious in the history of our country are those injustices inflicted upon American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. This is personal for me. I represent 27 tribes as the Senator from Nevada and have worked to protect their homelands and their sovereignty. I have a duty to ensure that the United States uphold centuries-old treaty and trust obligations towards Native Americans, and I take this responsibility very seriously,” Reid wrote.
“I will not stand idly by while a professional sports team promotes a racial slur as a team name and disparages the American people. Nor will I consider your invitation to attend a home game until your organization chooses to do the right thing and change its offensive name.”
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