Bill Text: CA ACR168 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
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-Amended.html
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-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 168 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 14, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly MembersV. Manuel Pérezand AlejoAlejo and V. Manuel Pérez AUGUST 4, 2014 Relative to NativeAmericans: NFL Football: Change the Mascot.Americans. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 168, as amended,V. Manuel PérezAlejo. NativeAmericans.Americans: NFL Football: Change the Mascot. 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, California has the highest Native American population in the country, with over 700,000 people who identify themselves as Native American and over 109 federally recognized Indian tribes; and WHEREAS, The name used by the Washington, D.C. National Football League (NFL) team iswidely recognized asbelieved by some to be a racial slur andpromotesto promote discrimination against Native Americans; and WHEREAS, "Indian" sports brands used by professional teams were born in an era when racism and bigotry were deemedacceptable. 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;acceptable; 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 Legislaturestands 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, andurges the National Football League (NFL) to joinIndian Country, Thethe National Congress of AmericanIndians,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.