The Washington Redskins have yet to buy into a name change, but several schools in California are going to have to comply thanks to a bill that was signed into law on Sunday.
The California Racial Mascots Act, now bans all public schools in the state from using the name “Redskins” as an athletic team name, mascot, or nickname.
According to the Los Angeles Times, there are currently four schools in California that use “Redskins” as a nickname and those four schools will have until Jan. 1, 2017 to comply with the new law.
Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, who’s been running a campaign to get the Washington Redskins to change their team name, commented on the move.
“Their historic step to build a better future stands in stark contrast to the dogged inaction of Washington’s NFL team, which in the face of all the evidence that this term degrades and offends Native Americans, continues to defend and promote the slur for its own financial gain,” Halbritter said in a statement. “The most populous state in the country has now taken a stand against the use of this insidious slur in its schools, and Change the Mascot expects more states to follow.”
The Redskins are appealing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office cancellation of their trademark.