Statement on the NBA's Action Condemning Intolerance in Professional Sports

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) released the following statement concerning the National Basketball Association's actions against Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling:

"The National Basketball Association is setting the standard for dealing with intolerance, racism and hate speech in professional sports. They showed that when a wealthy franchise owner promotes racist ideas a league and its other owners can act swiftly to condemn that behavior. It is my hope that the National Football League and its owners will follow suit and do everything in their power to ensure that the racist name of their Washington franchise is changed. The NFL and its owners have the ability to influence that change. I call on them to follow the lead of the NBA and use that ability to force a name change for their Washington franchise."