DC considers ban on American Indian nicknames

The D.C. Council will consider banning racially based nicknames for public schools in the nation’s capital.

Democratic Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie introduced a bill Tuesday that would force seven schools in the District of Columbia to change nicknames referring to American Indians.

McDuffie says the council should continue to push the NFL’s Washington Redskins to change their name. He and other District leaders say the name is offensive. And McDuffie says there’s “air of hypocrisy” to the city’s efforts as long as it continues to permit racially based nicknames, logos and mascots.

The bill would create an exemption for schools that establish an agreement with a federally recognized American Indian tribe to use a name.

A majority of McDuffie’s colleagues signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation.