Megan Finnerty | The Republic
The NFL’s Washington Redskins are suing the men and women who brought the case that canceled the team’s federal trademark registrations in June.
Amanda Blackhorse, who is Navajo, was the lead plaintiff in the suit and spoke today from her home in Kayenta on the Navajo Nation.
“We thought they’d file an appeal, but they decided to file a suit against us,” said Blackhorse, a 32-year-old social worker, mother and activist.
Rose Law Group attorney Evan Bolick comments:
This is not a surprise move and though I am in favor of the Trademark Office’s decision to cancel the trademark, it would have been foolish for the Redskins organization to not take action to preserve its rights. The “Redskins” name is still incredibly valuable and it would not make sense to relinquish the legal protections for it without a protracted legal battle. Their appeal is not without merit either, as much of the evidence relied on by the Trademark Office to reach its decision is questionable and ripe for attack. Most important, however, are the precedents that will be set by this and (undoubtedly) future appeals. In the meantime, organizations in a similar situation, such as the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, and even the American-Indian-friendly Chicago Blackhawks, have to be considered avid spectators of this legal contest. And given what is at stake, almost all of them are likely to be rooting for the Redskins to make a thrilling come-from-behind victory as we approach the “second-half” in this ongoing dispute.
