California passes Racial Mascots Act - votes to outlaw "Redskins" as offensive

The California state assembly voted on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004 to outlaw use of the name "Redskins" for team mascots. If passed by the state Senate and signed by the governor, the law will forbid public elementary, middle and high schools in the state from using "Redskins" as a team mascot name.

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg succeeded in having the vote passed after noting that Redskins was a racial slur. "When you take the top of someone's head off in order to get paid, blood rises to it and turns the skin red. That's what Redskin means."

For more information, consult these pages:

• The Sacramento Bee
• ESPN.com