Dem. Rep.: ‘Redskins’ Violates University’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, Shouldn’t Use Stadium

The NFL season hasn’t started yet, but one Democratic congresswoman is already trying to score her first sack of an upcoming game.

Next season, the Minnesota Vikings will use the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium as a temporary home while their new stadium is built. But Betty McCollum of the state’s fourth congressional district is calling for the university administrators to bar the November 2 game against the Washington Redskins from taking place because she says the team’s name violates the school’s Board of Regents’ Equity, Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action Policy.

McCollum, who co-chairs the Congressional Native American Caucus and has been vocal about her opposition to the name, recently penned a letter to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf to notify him of the supposed violation of the policy, which states that the university will help create an environment “free from racism . . . and other forms of prejudice, intolerance or harassment.” She encouraged Wilf to take a stand against the team, including suggesting opting out of the NFL’s revenue-sharing system since some profits come from the “hateful slur” that is the mascot.

Several local and campus groups said they plan to protest the game.

The university has already responded to McCollum’s objections, saying that while they are “very sensitive” to opposition to the name, there is no way to relocate or cancel the game.