Native Americans respond to Washington Commanders' new polarizing logo

A new Washington Commanders logo featuring a spear has drawn criticism from Native American organizations and prominent people in the Native American communities. The team posted images of a “new alternate logo’’ on social media accounts April 15. It shows a spear embedded in a W, which remains the team’s “primary logo,’’ the posts indicate.

“The Washington Commanders' decision to update their logo is disappointing and inappropriate to say the least,’’ the Association on American Indian Affairs said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “It is time to stop repeating this cycle and listen to Native Peoples who have been clear, consistent, and unwavering on this issue: We are not your mascot. ’’ For decades, Washington’s NFL team faced backlash for its depiction of Native Americans as part of its former mascot.

The team stopped using that mascot in 2020 and rebranded as the Washington Commanders in 2022. A caption on one of the team's social media posts reads, "Pieces of then and now, tied to one legacy. ’’ Suzan Harjo, a Native American activist who was part of two lawsuits designed to force Washington to change its previous mascot, said she thinks the team is being disingenuous -- trying to appease people who want to bring back the old mascot.

“There are a lot of people in Washington D. C. (and parts of Virginia and Maryland) who really long for the days of the dreaded R-word,’’ Harjo said, referring to the team’s previous nickname.