Bill Text: CA ACR168 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Native Americans: NFL Football: Change the Mascot.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 48-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-09-11 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 179, Statutes of 2014. [ACR168 Detail]

Download: California-2013-ACR168-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: ACR 168	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members V. Manuel Pérez and Alejo

                        AUGUST 4, 2014

   Relative to Native Americans: NFL Football: Change the Mascot.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 168, as introduced, V. Manuel Pérez. Native Americans.
   This measure would urge the National Football League (NFL) to join
with the Legislature and numerous organizations in calling for a
name change for the Washington, D.C. NFL team, and calls upon the
owners of NFL teams based in California to urge the owner of the
Washington, D.C. NFL team and the NFL Commissioner to change the team
mascot.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The name used by the Washington, D.C. National Football
League (NFL) team is widely recognized as a racial slur and promotes
discrimination against Native Americans; and
   WHEREAS, "Indian" sports brands used by professional teams were
born in an era when racism and bigotry were deemed acceptable. These
brands, which have grown to become multi-million dollar franchises,
were established at a time when the practice of employing racial
epithets and slurs as marketing slogans was commonly used to
capitalize on cultural superiority and racial tensions; and
   WHEREAS, 50 United States Senators joined together to send a
letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell demanding that, "It's time
for the NFL to endorse a name change for the Washington, D.C.
football team"; and
   WHEREAS, Dozens of groups representing millions of Americans have
asked NFL players to take a stand against the Washington, D.C. NFL
team's use of the derogatory R-word; and
   WHEREAS, On June 18, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO) canceled the Washington, D.C. NFL team's federal
trademark registration of the name "Washington R____." The USPTO
ruling deemed the term "disparaging to Native Americans," and
canceled the trademark status of the name. Unless the Washington,
D.C. NFL team successfully appeals, the USPTO ruling would mean that
the team has no legal ownership over the term; and
   WHEREAS, Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, city
councils, top sports icons, civil rights groups, religious groups,
prominent journalists, and President Obama have all spoken out
against the team's continued use of the epithet; now, therefore, be
it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature stands with the 109
federally recognized Indian tribes in California, which has the
highest Native American population in the country with over 700,000
people who identify themselves as Native American, and urges the
National Football League (NFL) to join Indian Country, The National
Congress of American Indians, and other organizations, which
represent more than 2 million Native Americans across the country and
more than 300 tribes in the United States, in calling for a name
change for the Washington, D.C. NFL team; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the owners of NFL teams
based in California to urge the Washington, D.C. NFL team owner Dan
Snyder and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to adhere to the wishes of
the millions of people who have joined Indian Country in urging that
they change the team mascot; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.