YouTube: Rep. Maffei Floor Speech in Support of Changing the Name of the Washington Football Team

Rep. Dan Maffei (D-New York) called on the Washington professional football team to eliminate its "derogatory" mascot in a speech on the House floor on Tuesday.

Maffei said he supports the Change the Mascot campaign, an effort started by the Oneida Nation. He held up a replica of the two-row wampum belt, a representation of a 400-year-old treaty in New York.

“Wouldn’t it be great if, in order to show reverence and respect for the Haudenosaunee and the Native American tribes across this country, that we continue to do these things?" Maffei said, referring to the commemoration of the treaty.

"And wouldn’t it be great if, in the 400th anniversary of this groundbreaking treaty, we could right the wrong, and change this NFL team’s name?" he added.

"In November of 1794, George Washington — whose portrait is one of only two portraits in this hallowed hall — through his official representative, [Timothy] Pickering, George Washington concluded the Treaty of Canandaigua with the Haudenosaunee. President Washington had a six-foot long treaty belt fashioned to ratify this treaty — that our two peoples should live in peace and friendship," Maffei said. "Mr. Speaker, George Washington himself respected the Native Americans of this country and their culture. Shouldn’t the NFL team that bears his name do the same?”

Get the Story:
DC Sports Bog: Congressman calls for Redskins name change on House floor (The Washington Post 11/19)
Rep. Dan Maffei jumps into controversy over Washington Redskins (The Syracuse Post-Standard 11/20)
N.Y. congressman joins fight to change Redskins name (USA Today 11/20)

Related Stories:
Oneida Nation leader in spotlight for campaign against mascot (11/18)
Interview: Washington owner felt 'mystical' bond with Indians (11/18)
Mainstream media wanted Obama to discuss racist mascot (11/14)
Column: Abramoff friend linked to Washington team owner (11/12)
ICT interviews Olympian Billy Mills on racist mascots in sports (11/11)
Democracy Now: Pressures grows to eliminate racist mascot (11/11)
Column: Washington team owner clings to 'insulting' mascot (11/11)
Protest against racist mascot draws large crowd in Minnesota (11/8)
Rep. McCollum joins AIM protest at Washington-Minnesota game (11/7)
Poarch Band of Creek Indians hosted owner of Washington team (11/7)
Column: Doubting Indian heritage claims of famed football coach (11/7)
DC Council calls for elimination of football team's racist mascot (11/6)