National Football League

Virginia politicians form 'Redskins Pride Caucus' to support team

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

Three Virginia state lawmakers are forming a "Redskins Pride Caucus" to defend the Washington, D.C.-based football team that has come under pressure to change its name.

Last month, 50 US senators sent a letter to the NFL urging it to change the name. And the US Patent and Trademark Office ruled last week that the Redskins name is disparaging to Native Americans and that the team should be stripped of federal trademark protection. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change the name.

Fairfax Democratic Sen. Chap Petersen, Manassas Republican Delegate Jackson Miller and Loudon Republican Delegate David Ramadan scheduled a news conference Monday at the Capitol to announce the caucus' formation.

In a news release, the lawmakers say their group would support "commercial freedom" in Virginia and oppose what they call Congress' "inappropriate involvement" in issues related to the Redskins.