http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Advocacy-group-creates-hoax-to-12430315.php
Advocacy group creates elaborate online hoax to introduce new Redskins mascot
Updated 11:14 am, Thursday, December 14, 2017
HONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Dallas Cowboys mascot and a Dallas cheerleaders pose for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Dallas Cowboys mascot and a Dallas cheerleaders pose for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Francisco 49ers mascot roams the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Francisco 49ers mascot roams the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The St. Louis Rams mascot walks on the field prior to start of the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The St. Louis Rams mascot walks on the field prior to start of the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13.
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Cleveland Browns mascot walks on the field prior to start of the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Cleveland Browns mascot walks on the field prior to start of the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13.
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Atlanta Falcons mascot walks on the field during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Atlanta Falcons mascot walks on the field during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Francisco 49ers mascot roams the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Francisco 49ers mascot roams the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Washington Redskins mascot stands on the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Washington Redskins mascot stands on the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Diego Chargers mascot walks on the field during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Diego Chargers mascot walks on the field during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Philadelphia Eagles mascot poses for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Philadelphia Eagles mascot poses for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Minnesota Vikings mascot walks on the field prior to start of the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Minnesota Vikings mascot walks on the field prior to start of the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13.
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Pittsburgh Steelers mascot roams the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Pittsburgh Steelers mascot roams the sidelines during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Diego Chargers mascot poses for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The San Diego Chargers mascot poses for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: A stadium scoreboard reads "NFL mascot of the year" during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: A stadium scoreboard reads "NFL mascot of the year" during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by
... moreHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Miami Dolphins mascot poses for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
lessHONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 5: The Miami Dolphins mascot poses for a photo during the 1995 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 5, 1995 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-13. (Photo by George
... moreNFL's newly renamed 'Washington Redhawks' is fake news.
Rising Hearts Coalition, a native advocacy group out of Washington D.C., pushed an elaborate online hoax to introduce the Washington Redskins' new mascot as the 'Washington Redhawks.'
"It really is that easy," the group said on its Facebook page Wednesday regarding changing the controversial NFL team's mascot.
The group chose the hawk, according to the fake team's official site, to represent the 'strength, speed and courage' of the players, while keeping the Redskins' iconic yellow circle, burgundy and gold colors.
As expected, news of the elaborate fake name change circulated on sports and news sites, including a Twitter account and a website devoted to the 'franchise,' until the Redskins - the real NFL team - issued an official statement on their site:
"This morning, the Redskins organization was made aware of fraudulent websites about our team name. The name of the team is the Washington Redskins and will remain that for the future."
For years, Native American groups and civil rights organizations have pushed for the Redskins and majority owner Dan Snyder to change the team's name and logo, saying use of Native American names and symbols by non-native sports teams is a harmful form of ethnic stereotyping.
A fake news story circulating on social media claimed the Washington Redskins changed their controversial name to the Washington Redhawks on Thursday.
Media: Fox5DC"After decades of team owner Dan Snyder refusing to change the name of the Washington football team, Native advocates took to the internet to do it for him," the group said in a press release."Today, social media exploded with an updated logo and mascot for DC's football
team: The WASHINGTON REDHAWKS."
Rising Hearts, a group which describes itself as a women-led indigenous group 'devoted to empowering the people and defending our human rights,' said the activists behind the hoax are hosting a press conference Thursday afternoon.
In 1995, the NFL used some bizarre mascots that were never seen again. For a look, browse through the slideshow above.
For a look at Houston sports mascots through the years, click here.
