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"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The&amp;nbsp;Oneida Indian Nation and the National Congress of American Indians have launched a telephone campaign asking NFL fans to petition league leaders to change the Washington Redskins nickname, the Oneida Nation announced Thursday.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The campaign will call residents of the Washingon, D.C. metro area and play a prerecorded message from two Washington fans.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"We represent America\u2019s capital; and it\u2019s time we demonstrate our commitment to the ideals of equality and civility,\" Washington fan Josh Silver says. \"Without the name, it\u2019s still D.C. football... You can stay a true fan, and also recognize the need for a mascot that doesn\u2019t alienate and offend.\"\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The other fan on the call is Ian Washburn, who was also featured in a&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Washington Post&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;article in September.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The call asks people to send letters to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and to Anna Isaacson, the league's VP of social responsibility.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&amp;nbsp;Native American chief urges boycott of FedEx over 'Redskins' name\u200B&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Opposition to the team's nickname is nothing new but has increased dramatically in recent years.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In June, the franchise&amp;nbsp;had its trademark revoked&amp;nbsp;on the grounds that it was \"disparaging to Native Americans.\" The franchise is currently fighting that ruling in court.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;i &gt;New Yorker&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;cover mocks 'Redskins' nickname&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A SI&amp;nbsp;poll in September&amp;nbsp;found that only 25 percent of fans thought the name should be changed.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;NFL broadcasters used \"Redskins\" 27 percent less often during telecasts this season, according to a Deadspin study. In September, the FCC said it would consider punishing a Washington radio station for using the nickname. In December it announced that station would not be punished because the name is not profane.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022 &lt;strong&gt;BARSHOP:&amp;nbsp;Youth leagues also wrestling with controversial Redskins nickname&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A senator from Washington state&amp;nbsp;also announced&amp;nbsp;she would introduce legislation to strip the NFL of its tax-exempt status as a response to the league's support of the nickname.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Washington owner Dan Snyder&amp;nbsp;infamously told&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;USA TODAY&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;in 2013,&amp;nbsp;\"We'll never change the name. It's that simple. NEVER \u2014 you can use caps.\"\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here is the full script of the call:\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ian: Hi, I\u2019m Ian Washburn\r\n\r\nJosh: And I\u2019m Josh Silver. We\u2019re lifelong fans of Washington pro football.\r\n\r\nIan: After missing the playoffs again, it\u2019s clear things need to change\u2014including our team\u2019s name.\r\n\r\nJosh: Native American tribes, national civil rights organizations, and elected officials from both parties agree. We represent America\u2019s capital; and it\u2019s time we demonstrate our commitment to the ideals of equality and civility.\r\n\r\nIan: Without the name, it\u2019s still D.C. football; still honoring legends like Doug Williams and Joe Gibbs. You can stay a true fan, and also recognize the need for a mascot that doesn\u2019t alienate and offend.\r\n\r\nJosh: We\u2019re asking other fans who love the team but hate the name to join us in contacting the NFL\u2019s VP of Social Responsibility Anna&amp;nbsp;Isaacson&amp;nbsp;at 345 Park Ave, New York, NY 10154, or Anna.Isaascon@nfl.com.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\nIan: Let\u2019s tell her and Commissioner&amp;nbsp;Goodell&amp;nbsp;that even D.C.\u2019s fans want a new mascot. Remember, the name was devised by former owner George Preston Marshall, an avowed racist and segregationist. Let\u2019s do the right thing, turn the page, and ensure our future legacy is one of pride and respect.\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Staubach: Change 'Redskins' name if derogatory to Native Americans\u200B&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;- Dan Gartland&lt;/em&gt;\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/15/washington-redskins-name-change-oneida-telephone-campaign>