Ray Halbritter, the federally-recognized representative of the Oneida Nation of New York, thanked President Barack Obama on Tuesday for speaking out against racist mascots.

Halbritter was one of 12 tribal leaders who met with Obama at the White House. The Oneida Nation has been running the Change the Mascot campaign against the Washington professional football team.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude, which is what I did," Halbritter told USA Today. "The president acknowledged it, he nodded, and applause spontaneously broke out around the table."

The meeting was arranged in advance of the White House Tribal Nations Conference.

Get the Story:
Oneida Indians thank Obama for comments on Redskins (USA Today 11/13)
Oneida Nation leader thanks President Obama for speaking up about Washington Redskins (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 11/13)
Tribes thank Obama for saying he'd change Redskins name (The Hill 11/13)
Halbritter visits White House on Redskins controversy (AP 11/12)

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