Maybe it really is time to change the Washington Redskins name… A Twitter campaign centered around the hashtag #RedskinsPride backfired on the NFL team today as most people used the hashtag to complain about the team’s dated and racist name.
The Redskins were trying to get their fans to tweet Senator Harry Reid messages with the hashtag #RedskinsPride in order to convince the senator that the team’s name wasn’t racist. Well, it didn’t exactly work out like that.
Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you.
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 29, 2014
The Redskins successfully got people to tweet Senator Harry Reid but the majority of tweets asked the senator to continue fighting to change the team’s name.
https://twitter.com/deuce4922/statuses/472089298205147137
#RacialSlurPride RT @Redskins: Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you.
— Jamil Smith جميل كريم (@JamilSmith) May 29, 2014
If you like, beer, partying, football, and the extermination of a people, you'll love The @Redskins! #RedskinsPride #changethename
— Jamie Kilstein (@jamiekilstein) May 29, 2014
#RedskinsPride Doubling down on the mistakes of yesteryear as you try to dull the pain of everyday life.
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) May 29, 2014
.@Redskins @SenatorReid Hitler studied American Indian reservations while designing German concentration camps. #RedskinsPride!
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) May 29, 2014
OK. RT @Redskins: Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you. pic.twitter.com/L9DBy0KSVA
— man it’s a hot zone, (@Mobute) May 29, 2014
Tonight's @Redskins game is brought to you by Nike, Cheerios, and the slaughter of millions of Native people. #RedskinsPride #changethename
— BGD (@BGDblog) May 29, 2014
Of course, some people are supporting the Washington Redskins’ campaign to keep their name. They even used the hashtag the “appropriate” way.
https://twitter.com/NonoFisher/statuses/472151588011003904
https://twitter.com/mattygreens/statuses/472152143869534208
It will be interesting to see how the #RedskinsPride effects the political discussion. It looks like the majority of Twitter wants the Redskins to change its name but I can’t give you any hard numbers. Faiz Shakir, Reid’s digital director, told Deadspin: “The Skins tried to engage folks, and it has failed miserably … we haven’t found more than one or two that are actually supportive.”
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