Amanda Blackhorse, the Native American activist who served as the lead plaintiff in the case that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decided against the Washington Redskins, says she wants to see more than just the team losing its federal trademark protection.
Blackhorse also wants fans to reconsider their actions, and think about whether it really shows honor to Native Americans for non-Native fans to paint their faces when cheering on the Redskins or Kansas City Chiefs.
“You can love Native Americans and not have anything against them, but yet your fans will do very bizarre rituals in these games that are very stereotypical of Native American people,” Blackhorse said, via Grand Canyon News. “The headdress, the war paint, that’s what I have a problem with.”
Whether fans who wear head dresses and war paint intend to offend or not, the reality is that many Native Americans find images of non-Native fans in traditional Native garb offensive.