A recent study by the California State University, San Bernadino reports 67% of Native Americans find the Washington Redskins name and imagery racist.
The NFL has stood by the team name, with commissioner Roger Goodell claiming the name "honors" Native Americans and says the majority of Natives would not like to change the name.
Team owner Dan Snyder has famously said, "We'll never change the name. It's that simple. NEVER — you can use caps."
James Fenelon, a professor of sociology and Director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies at CSUSB polled respondents individually, in order to substantiate their Native ancestry.
The survey found the use of the term by non-Indians was seen as racist by 65.5% of Native respondents, whereas only 17.8% do not believe it is racist.
An oft-cited 2004 survey had claimed only 9% of Native Americans found the name Redskins offensive, but the methodology has been criticized. Tribal status was not verified and Alaska, which has a significant Native population was excluded.
The opposition to the name has also grown exponentially in recent months. Recently, fifty Senators sent a letter requesting the name be changed. This lead to the team asking Twitter users to tweet at Senator Harry Reid about what the name means to them, which backfired spectacularly.
Goodell himself cited the study during a Super Bowl press conference in January.
