A coalition of Native American activists, led by activist Rhonda LeValdo, continues their campaign to compel the Kansas City Chiefs to change their name and cease the use of Native American imagery and references in sports. LeValdo, founder of the Kansas City-based group Not In Our Honor, has been vocal in advocating for an end to practices like the Tomahawk Chop.
LeValdo, who is of Acoma Pueblo descent and has resided in the Kansas City area for over two decades, expressed frustration with the NFL's "End Racism" initiatives juxtaposed with the continued use of a name that disrespects Native American communities.
The discrepancy between the league's messaging and the Chiefs' branding is a point of contention for LeValdo and her group. Despite claims from some sports teams that their mascots honor and respect Native tribes, Not In Our Honor rejects this assertion.
The activism echoes recent changes in sports branding, such as the Cleveland Indians' transition to the Guardians and the Washington Redskins' transformation into the Commanders following societal reckonings with racial insensitivity, particularly after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.
