Amanda Blackhorse, in blue, organized a protest when the Kansas City Chiefs played in Arizona in December 2014. Photo from Arizona to Rally Against Native American Mascots / Facebook
Activist Amanda Blackhorse will be the keynote speaker for the spring commencement ceremony at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas. Blackhorse is a member of the Navajo Nation who is well known for her fight against racist mascots. As part of the Blackhorse v. Pro Football, Inc case, she convinced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the disparaging trademarks of the Washington NFL team. Blackhorse and her fellow Native youth petitioners went on to win a decision in federal court that upheld the cancellation of the marks. But the team isn't giving up and is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene before an appellate court hears the dispute. Blackhorse, who is a 2004 graduate of Haskell, will deliver the speech on May 6. The ceremony kicks off a weekend of commencement events, including the annual powwow on May 6-7.
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