Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins, has resisted pressure to change the team’s name. Image by getty images

The Anti-Defamation League welcomed the cancellation of the Washington Redskins trademark by the federal patent office.

“The decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office represents a significant step forward in fighting prejudice, discrimination and hurtful stereotypes, particularly in the professional sports arena,” the ADL said in a statement Wednesday, after the announcement of the revocation.

“The Washington Redskins name is deeply offensive to Native Americans, reinforces racial stereotypes, and promotes bigotry,” the statement said.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The ADL has joined a number of initiatives to persuade the NFL franchise to change its name, most recently signing a letter to every NFL player to speak out in favor of a change.

The patent office’s decision does not immediately deprive the team of rights to the name. The decision must first exhaust appeals, and even in the event it is upheld, the Redskins may be able to invoke some legal protections.

The team’s owner, Dan Snyder, is Jewish. He has resisted pressure to change the name.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount