As Navajo Nation President Ben Shelley watched the game with Dan Snyder, one fan of Washington NFL’s team decided to show “honor” and “respect” by painting his face red and wearing a feather headdress.
On Twitter, people turned against Shelley, who was defeated during the primary, for joining Snyder to watch the game. The Navajo Nation Council voted 9-2 earlier this year to oppose the team’s name.
Ben Shelly cheering for the same team that have bilagaanas with painted faces and fake head dresses! #smh #navajo #noshame
— Jasper Begay (@welovejas) October 13, 2014
Over 100 people rallied outside the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. before Sunday’s game in favor of changing the name and mascot, while a counter-protest included signs like “I am a Navajo. NEVER change the name.”
150 people rally to change racist sports name in Glendale, AZ. Photo: Mike Benally #changethemascot #NotYourMascot pic.twitter.com/yAPsnQkjEl
— Indigenous Action (@media_action) October 13, 2014
One of the protesters confronted the man who wore red face and a headdress to the game and filmed the interaction. “Hey, look at these racists!” the protester says. Someone not pictured replies, “You can’t take my picture. I’ll break your camera.”
Apparently Getty’s Christian Peterson didn’t get the memo.