Exeter Chiefs under pressure to ditch controversial and ‘racist’ branding after Washington Redskins announce review

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EXETER CHIEFS are beneath rising strain to ditch their controversial Native American branding and mascot.

Simply final week in USA, NFL aspect the Washington Redskins introduced that they’d be having a evaluation into their offensive title.

Exeter Chiefs are under growing pressure to ditch their controversial Native American branding and mascot — Exeter Chiefs are beneath rising strain to ditch their controversial Native American branding and mascot

A petition for change reached more than 1,600 signatures — A petition for change reached greater than 1,600 signatures

And the Rugby Soccer Union are set to evaluation the singing of Swing Low, Candy Chariot.

On this nation title-chasing Exeter Chiefs are beneath comparable strain after a petition for change reached greater than 1,600 signatures.

Nevertheless, the membership have thus far refused to remark.

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has already backed requires a evaluation into the Premiership aspect’s mascot and badge.

Petition organiser Ash Inexperienced mentioned: “Exeter Chiefs is a implausible membership that has seen an enormous quantity of success on the pitch and finished quite a lot of good off it for many years.

“It’s one in every of Exeter’s most well-known manufacturers and has put the town firmly on the sporting map. The membership MUST deal with its use of racist imagery and branding.

“There isn’t a place in a predominantly white British atmosphere for appropriation of Indigenous Peoples‘ imagery that has no relation in any way to the historical past of the membership, or the town.

“The ‘Chiefs’ model dates again to 1999, a call that was not taken with racism in thoughts, however one that’s now sat more and more awkwardly on the pinnacle of English rugby.

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has already backed calls for a review into the Premiership side's mascot and badge — Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has already backed requires a evaluation into the Premiership aspect’s mascot and badge

“The stylised Chief on the membership’s crest, the ‘Huge Chief’ mascot, the headdresses and tomahawks adorning the supporters, and the ‘Tomahawk Chop’ chant are all examples of cultural appropriation of the Indigenous Peoples who had been all however worn out by white European settlers and who nonetheless undergo excessive examples of racial prejudice immediately, the world over.

“There’s a large quantity of correspondence from Indigenous Peoples making it very clear that they discover using their sacred rites and iconography in these contexts deeply hurtful and offensive.

“The Nationwide Congress of American Indians summarises it brilliantly right here: http://www.ncai.org/proudtobe

“The membership doesn’t even want to alter its title – Exeter Chiefs might confer with the Celtic Chiefs who inhabited the town and contributed to its wealthy and various historical past. It’s the imagery that should change.

“There’s large potential for the membership to grab the positivity across the BLM motion, to take possession of a branding resolution that’s now very clearly on the unsuitable aspect of historical past.

“There’s no want to alter the title simply the emblem, which might:

“Generate constructive press by addressing the problems of cultural appropriation and displaying consciousness and a proactive want to result in constructive change.

“Contain the neighborhood within the rebrand, making folks really feel concerned within the identification of their native membership, which can be impressed by native historical past;

“Generate income for the membership by gross sales of merchandise that includes the brand new branding.