Native American group files lawsuit against Washington Commanders over ‘fake’ group claims

A Native American group filed a lawsuit against the Washington Commanders after the team alleged the group, which is advocating that the team revert to its “Redskins” title, was “fake.”

The group, the Native American Guardians Association, filed its defamation lawsuit in North Dakota federal court, highlighting efforts made by the Washington Commanders and its leaders to defame NAGA, according to a press release from the group. The filing of this lawsuit comes after a sales manager for the Commanders, Matthew Laux, claimed the group was “fake” in a text message sent in August.

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“This coordinated effort by the Commanders to defame NAGA in their attempt of cancel culture meets the legal requirements of defamation, among other damages,” said Chad Laveglia, the group’s attorney. “Given the Commanders are an NFL Team with extensive resources, a basic Google search that anyone can perform proves NAGA is, in fact, a legitimate entity. The Commanders’ alleged intent to defame and slander them is actionable. We are thankful for the whistleblowers that have come forward and we anticipate many more will.”

A Washington Commanders spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that NAGA’s complaint is “without merit” and that the situation will be addressed in court.

NAGA’s lawsuit claims that in calling the group “fake,” Laux was “attacking the very identity” of the group’s members and calling them “fake native Americans.”

Laux had been discussing NAGA’s petition, which is asking the team to readopt its title of the Washington Redskins, when he claimed the group was “fake.” The team’s spokesperson has since issued a statement saying Laux does not speak for the organization.

As of Monday, NAGA’s petition to have the team revert to the “Washington Redskins” has over 132,000 signatures.

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Eunice Davidson, the group’s president, wrote a letter to the Washington Commanders in August, in which she pointed to a poll that found 90% of Native Americans did not find the Redskins name offensive. The group also noted other sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Blackhawks, have kept their Native American-inspired names while recognizing the names carry “an obligation of honor and respect.”

However, the team’s leadership does not share the same interest in changing its name to its previous one, with Mitchell Rales, the top partner in Josh Harris’s ownership group, saying the team is “not going to re-litigate the past.” In July, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, one of the Commanders’ co-owners, hinted the team could change its name again, with the new name coming as soon as next year.