Trump Urges Commanders to Restore Former Team Name
President Trump Pressures the Washington Commanders to Revert Back to Racist Name that was Changed with Help from Indigenous and Investor Advocacy
In a string of Truth Social posts on Sunday night, President Trump called on the Washington Commanders football team to change its name back to the “Washington Redskins.”
Plans on ice:
The call comes as the Commanders plan to move their home base from Maryland and back to Washington D.C. to the RFK Stadium. President Trump added pressure to his request by stating he “won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington” until they change their name. The team is currently seeking approval of development plans.
Shareholder advocacy:
The history of the team’s name change lies with Indigenous advocates and the impact investing community. Teaming up with Boston Common Asset Management in 2009, Susan White of Oneida Trust wrote an investor letter to FedEx CEO Fred Smith, who was a minority owner of the Washington team and held naming rights to the team’s stadium. The letter highlighted the shareholders’ concerns of the “high-profile promotion” of a team using a racial slur and asked FedEx to discuss their “commitment to promoting a more diverse and respectful workplace and society.”
Years of engagement:
This letter sparked the beginning of a long, cross-company engagement to push the team to change its name. Other valuable actors included Mercy Investment Services, the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), First Peoples Worldwide, Trillium Asset Management, and more.
2020 name change:
The team finally agreed to shed its name in 2020, following increased public pressure following the tragic death of George Floyd and the heightened focus on racial justice, as well as pressure from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Read the full story here.
What We Are Watching This Week
Donations and Democracy published its fourth country briefing on the United Kingdom. Donations and Democracy is an independent, non-partisan initiative of international human rights experts and lawyers studying the connection between foreign companies and U.S. Congress members who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Read more about the initiative here.