Nearly three in four Americans think the Washington Redskins should be allowed to keep their name, yet the share of people who think it should be scrapped is growing rapidly, according to a new poll for ESPN’s Outside the Lines.
Langer Research polled more than 1,000 people and found that 71 percent think the name should stay. Yet 23 percent think it should go, a sharp uptick from 8 percent in 1992 and a 9-percent increase from last year, the sports network reported.
More than half — 54 percent — think the name is unlikely to change, while 42 percent think it will.
The remaining percent had no opinion on the name, which some argue is offensive to Native Americans.
Members of Congress have encouraged the NFL to compel a name change, although Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed not to change the moniker.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office canceled team trademarks over the summer, citing the name, although the team has appealed.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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