Report: Investment firms lobby
sponsors to cut ties with Redskins
Send a link to a friend
[July 02, 2020]
A group of investment firms and
shareholders is lobbying Nike, FedEx and PepsiCo to end their
sponsorship agreements with the Washington Redskins unless the team
changes its nickname, Adweek reported Wednesday.
The Redskins nickname has survived multiple challenges over the
years, with many Native American groups labeling the name racist.
The latest move came in the form of letters sent Friday to the three
companies, per Adweek. The request reportedly was backed by 87
firms, headed by First Peoples Worldwide, Oneida Nation Trust
Enrollment Committee, Trillium Asset Management, Boston Trust
Walden, Mercy Investment Services and First Affirmative Financial
Network.
The group behind the letter have combined assets of $620 billion,
according to the report.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Jul/02/images/ads/current/heartland_discover_lda_April_2020.png)
First Peoples Worldwide director Carla Fredericks told Adweek, "This
is a broader movement now that's happening that Indigenous peoples
are part of. Indigenous peoples were sort of left out of the civil
rights movement in the late 1960s in many respects, because our
conditions were so dire on reservations and our ability to engage
publicly was very limited because of that. With social media now,
obviously everything is very different."
FedEx is the title sponsor of the Redskins' home stadium, FedExField
in Landover, Md.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/070220pics/sports49.jpg)
Washington Redskins football shirts and a team flag on sale at a
sporting goods store in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, U.S., June
24, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
The letter to Nike reportedly read, in part, "We appreciate that
Nike has spoken up in support of the protests stating 'Systemic
racism and the events that have unfolded across America over the
past few weeks serve as an urgent reminder of the continued change
needed in our society. The Nike, Inc. family can always do more but
will never stop striving to role model how a diverse company acts.'
"However, Nike continues to provide uniforms and equipment to the
Washington D.C. NFL football team which bears the logo and name.
Further, it produces and sells thousands of jerseys and other
apparel with the team's racist name and logo. This association with
and facilitation of the racism inherent in the name and logo runs
contrary to the very sentiments expressed by the company."
Adweek reported that Nike and Pepsi refused to comment on the
letters while FedEx referred questions about the football team's
nickname to Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.
The Redskins also declined comment according to Adweek.
Snyder has said that the team will not change the nickname as long
as he is in charge.
--Field Level Media
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |