Cleveland Indians to review their team name in order to ‘advance social justice and equality’

Major League Baseball team the Cleveland Indians will review their team name in order to ’embrace their responsibility to advance social justice and equality’.

Amid new pressure sparked by a national movement to correct racial wrongdoings, the Indians said on Friday night they will review their long-debated nickname which has been in place for 105 years.

It comes just hours after NFL team the Washington Redskins announced that they would be reviewing their names following demands from major sponsors.  

The Cleveland Indians will review their name amid protests against racial injustice

The Indians announced they’d review the name in order to ‘advance social justice and equality’

‘We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance social justice and equality,’ the team said in a statement. 

‘Our organisation fully recognises our team name is among the most visible ways in which we connect with the community.’

The move mirrors the one made by the Redskins, who are embarking on a ‘thorough review’ of their name, which has been deemed as offensive by Native American groups for decades. 

The Redskins’ decision came in the wake of FedEx, which paid $205million for naming rights to the team’s stadium, and other corporate partners calling for the team to change its nickname.

It comes hours after Washington Redskins announced they’d review their name amid backlash 

FedEx, who sponsor of the Washington Redskins’ stadium, demanded a review into the name

The Redskins say they will listen to input from team alumni, sponsors, and the local community

There have been previous efforts to get the Indians to rename themselves. But following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota and other examples of police brutality against Black people in the US, there has been a major move nationwide to eradicate racially insensitive material.

In 2018, the Indians removed the contentious Chief Wahoo logo from their game jerseys and caps. The grinning, red-faced mascot, however, is still present on merchandise that can be purchased at Progressive Field and other team shops in Northeast Ohio.

Nothing has been decided, but the Indians’ decision to at least discuss the possibility of a name change is new. There will certainly be backlash from some Cleveland fans, but the team is sensitive to doing the right thing in these changing times.

‘We have had ongoing discussions organisationally on these issues,’ the Indians said. 

In 2018, the Indians removed the contentious Chief Wahoo logo from game jerseys and caps

‘The recent social unrest in our community and our country has only underscored the need for us to keep improving as an organisation on issues of social justice. With that in mind, we are committed to engaging our community and appropriate stakeholders to determine the best path forward with regard to our team name.’

‘While the focus of the baseball world shifts to the excitement of an unprecedented 2020 season, we recognise our unique place in the community and are committed to listening, learning, and acting in the manner that can best unite and inspire our city and all those who support our team,’ the club said.

Before their named was changed in 1915 to Indians – a nickname picked after sports writers solicited readers – Cleveland’s baseball team was called the Forest Citys, the Spiders, Blues, Bronchos and Naps, a name to honor Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie.