The United Church of Christ in the Mid-Atlantic is proposing a boycott of the Washington professional football team due to its racist mascot.

The Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC passed a resolution that calls on the 185 congregations in five states, plus the District of Columbia, to debate the matter. Members would not attend games and would not wear, purchase or display the team's paraphernalia if the churches adopt the boycott at their upcoming conference in June.

“If you look at the dictionary definition of the present team name, it’s a derogatory term,” Rev. John R. Deckenback, the minister who leads the conference, told The Washington Post. “We’d like the name of the team to be changed.”

The team claims Native Americans support the mascot even though nearly every Indian and inter-tribal organization, along with individual tribes, oppose it.

Get the Story:
Churches propose a boycott of Redskins unless the team changes its name (The Washington Post 3/2)

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