Harry Reid says he won't attend Redskins game until team changes name
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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he won't attend a Washington Redskins home game until the football team changes its controversial name.
In a letter late last week to the team's president, Reid called the Redskins name a racial slur that disparages the American people. The Nevada Democrat, who said he represents 27 tribes in his state, rejected Bruce Allen's invitation to a Redskins home game until the team does "the right thing" and changes its name.
"I will not stand idly by while a professional sports team promotes a racial slur as a team name and disparages the American people," Reid said in the letter. "Nor will I consider your invitation to attend a home game until your organization chooses to do the right thing and change its offensive name."
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Reid said the matter is "personal" for him.
Last month, the Redskins responded to Senate Democrats who said the nickname is a racial slur, saying it is “respectful” to Native Americans and suggested the lawmakers didn't have all of the facts.
In a letter to Reid, Allen wrote: "Our use of `Redskins' as the name of our football team for more than 80 years has always been respectful of and shown reverence toward the proud legacy and traditions of Native Americans."
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Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed never to change the name.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.