Eni Faleomavaega: “In 1995, former Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollin announced that he would be changing the name of the Washington…”

“In 1995, former Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollin announced that he would be changing the name of the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards. The change did not happen overnight, nor was everyone happy about it. But Mr. Pollin knew it was the right thing to do. And he did it successfully. Given the high homicide and crime rate in the early 1990s in Washington, D.C., Mr. Pollin became increasingly concerned about the Bullets' association with violence. Finally, when Mr. Pollin's close friend, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated in November 1995, he made the final decision. Mr. Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, may never come to the realization that is so evident to us all in the 21st century--that the term ``redskins'' is racist, demeaning, derogatory, and offensive to Native Americans. But I stand today, once again, to make this appeal to Mr. Snyder. I am thankful for Mr. Pollin's brave decision to change the Bullets' name, and I urge Mr. Snyder to have the courage to do the same. Change the name of your football franchise. ____________________”