The Washington Redskins logo isn’t the only one that could be changed soon. (Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press)
Apparel company adidas announced Thursday that it would help any high school in America that wants to change its logo or mascot from “potentially harmful Native American imagery or symbolism.”
The company offered access to the Adidas design team to help come up with new designs for uniforms and will provide financial assistant to offset the cost of new uniforms. Schools looking to participate can email their request to mascotchange@adidas.com.
The announcement comes in advance of Thursday’s White House Tribal Nations Conference, in support of high school mascot name changes. Adidas said it is participating in the event.
“High school social identities are central to the lives of young athletes, so it’s important to create a climate that feels open to everyone who wants to compete,” Mark King, president of adidas Group North America, said in a press release.
“In many cities across our nation, the high school and its sports teams take center stage in the community and the mascot and team names become an everyday rallying cry.”
Last month, California became the first state to ban the use of the name “Redskins” for public school team names or mascots. There were four schools in the state using the name and they have until Jan. 1, 2017 to phase in a replacement.
