MLB team the Cleveland Indians said they are to review their team name to "embrace their responsibility to advance social justice and equality".
The Major League Baseball side's announcement comes in light of recent protests against racial injustice in the United States. The Indians said on Friday night that they will review their long-debated nickname, which has been in place since 1915.
The move mirrors the one made by NFL side, the Washington Redskins on Friday night, who are embarking on a "thorough review" of their name, which has been deemed offensive by Native American groups for decades.
The Redskins' decision came in the wake of sponsors FedEx, who paid $205 million for naming rights to the team's stadium, and other corporate partners calling for the team to change its nickname.
In a statement issued today, the Cleveland Indians said they were "committed to making a positive impact in the game".
"Our organisation fully recognises our team name is among the most visible ways in which we connect with the community.”
"We have had ongoing discussions organisationally on these issues. The recent social unrest in our community and our country has only underscored the need for us to keep improving as an organisation on issues of social justice.
"With that in mind, we are committed to engaging our community and appropriate stakeholders to determine the best path forward with regard to our team name."
The Indians dropped the Chief Wahoo logo from their uniforms in 2019 after Major League Baseball said it was "no longer appropriate in Baseball."
The logo which features a red-faced cartoon man in a feather headband has been used by the team since 1947 but has been singled out by Native American groups as an offensive racial caricature, with the team criticised for perpetuating stereotypes about indigenous people.
Nothing has been decided yet for the team, but the Indians' decision to discuss the possibility of a name change is new. It is understood that there will certainly be backlash from some Cleveland fans, but the team is sensitive to the importance of doing the right thing in these changing times.
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