NEWS BRIEF: Atlanta Braves name controversy reemerges after White House visit

There has been much talk about renaming sports teams, bands, and products due to racial insensitivity. We all remember 2020 renaming of the Washington Redskins to the Commanders, possibly the most high profile incident and definitely the one that received the most vitriol from fans.

The Atlanta Braves, another sports team with a long-debated name, has been the subject of renewed controversy after the team visited the White House on Monday, celebrating their 2021 World Series victory with President Joe Biden. Many are calling the name and the team’s “tomahawk chop” racist, while just as many, if not more, are contesting the complaints. Politics is everything. And everything is politics.

Yesterday, when asked about the debate, White House Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had this to say, “We believe it’s important to have this conversation. Native American and Indigenous voices should be at the center of the conversation. That is something the president believes. That is something this administration believes. And he has consistently emphasized that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. You hear that often from this president. The same is true here. And we should listen to Native American and Indigenous people who are most impacted by this.”

This statement quickly drew the ire of many Republican politicians and media stars, crying out that the baseball team’s name is sacred and using “whataboutism” to deflect to other issues ahead of the upcoming primaries.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp tweeted, “The @Braves should always be the Atlanta Braves. Go Braves and Keep Choppin’!” Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker agreed, “”Georgia will not fall for woke Washington’s attempt to change the name of the greatest baseball team in America.” And Georgia Lieutenant Governor candidate Burt Jones echoed the same message, “We’re not changing and we’re not apologizing for it either. Go Braves!” foxnews.com