Cancer

Redskins Name Protest, Cancer Fundraiser At Odds

Completing this dismal season for Washington's football team, those who want the team to change their name protested before their last game.

However, a fundraiser occurring at a tailgate had them fuming about the name of the charity event.

A protest about the Redskins name took place at the Jericho City of Praise, a church less than a mile away from FedEx Field. The group wants the team to change the name of the football team, a familiar protest for the past two years.

At the same time, members of Extremeskins.com, a team-sponsored message board, held a fundraiser to have people shave their heads to raise money for cancer research.

The name of the event was “Scalp Out Cancer: Because Bald is Beautiful.”

Michael Kennedy, the event’s coordinator, told The Washington Post the name is not meant to offend anyone, and he insisted that use of the term “scalp” was neither a reference to the Indian mascot nor an insult targeted at the protesters.

However, backlash on the message board prompted Kennedy to change the name to "Shave Out Cancer."

Kris Rhodes, executive director of the American Indian Cancer Foundation, told The Post her organization would never accept money from a fundraiser with such a title.

“I’m just dumfounded. I have no words,” said Rhodes, a Chippewa. “It’s just so incredibly ignorant.”
 

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