DC leaders praise ruling on Redskins name

WASHINGTON (AP) — Political leaders in the nation’s capital are praising a decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the trademark for the Washington Redskins’ nickname.

District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray said Wednesday that he’s a “huge fan” of the team and a “huge fan” of changing its name. The Democratic mayor calls the ruling “yet another step in that direction.”

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents the District in Congress, says the ruling that the name “Redskins” is disparaging “was close to inevitable” given a similar previous ruling by the patent office that was overturned on a technicality. She says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should urge the team not to appeal the decision and “put this issue to rest.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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