Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAMPA, FL - The American Indian Movement of Florida (Florida AIM) will hold a press conference tomorrow, January 13, 1999, at 9:30 A.M at the Hillsborough County Courthouse (Tampa, FL) to announce the American Indian Movement of Florida will have filed a Temporary Injunction against the Washington Redskins requesting the team be prevented from using the name Redskins and anything else relating to American Indian peoples, cultures, spiritualities or dress.

On May 27, 1988 the United States Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office ruled that the Washington teams use of the term Redskins and portrayal of American Indian peoples was, “disparaging to Native Americans and may bring them into contempt and disrepute.” The Patent office subsequently removed the Washington Redskins trademark and patent protection.

Florida AIM is asking the court to recognize the disparaging pejorative use of American Indian peoples as a sports mascot by the Washington team and enjoin them from using the name, logo and paraphernalia within this district.

Florida AIM plans to file a multi-million dollar defamation/libel/slander suit against the Washington team later this year for damages accrued by Indigenous peoples since 1966 when the Washington NFL team began playing in the State of Florida and defaming American Indian peoples, cultures, history spritualities, and existence.