Georgia US Senators 'Adamantly Oppose Any Effort to Rename the Atlanta Braves'

Republican U.S. Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia released a joint statement Monday saying they "adamantly oppose any effort to rename the Atlanta Braves" after Cleveland's MLB team announced an upcoming name change.

Fletcher Page of the Athens Banner-Herald provided the full statement from Perdue and Loeffler, who are both up for re-election in runoff elections on Jan. 5:

"We adamantly oppose any effort to rename the Atlanta Braves, one of our state's most storied and successful sports franchises. Not only are the Braves a Georgia institution—with a history spanning 54 years in Atlanta—they're an American institution. The Braves' name honors our nation's Native American heritage, which should not be erased—and under no circumstances should one of the most celebrated teams in sports cave to the demands of the cancel culture and the radical left."

However, the Braves' nickname has been one of many to come under scrutiny in recent years, with many Indigenous people and advocacy groups pointing to the harm that such mascots can cause. As the Native American Journalists Association stated this summer: "A growing body of scientific research clearly demonstrates the harm caused by the portrayal of race-based mascots in media. The harm includes negative impacts on the self-esteem of Indigenous youth, increased prejudicial attitudes toward Indigenous people, and increased stereotyping of other minority groups."

The NFL's Washington Football Team dropped its longtime nickname before the 2020 season as part of nationwide changes regarding names offensive to Native Americans, from the major leagues to high schools.

In late November, Bountiful High School in Utah retired their "Braves" nickname while promising to "select a culturally sensitive mascot" as a replacement. In August 2019, Boise High School changed its nickname from "Braves" to "Brave," a move that was supported by the Shoshone-Bannock tribe.

In a letter to the Boise School District, tribe Chairman Ladd Edmo wrote: "We appreciate your sincere consideration of our request to change offensive names and use of inappropriate images. ... We look forward to dispelling the confusion, the misleading and inaccurate interpretations of local tribal history, government and cultural beliefs that the Boise community may have of the tribes."

Despite the senators' calls for Atlanta's name to remain, the decision to change similar team names has to this point been taken by clubs. In July, the Braves sent an email to season-ticket holders that said a name changes wasn't being considered, per ESPN.

"Through our conversations, changing the name of the Braves is not under consideration or deemed necessary," the team said. "We have great respect and reverence for our name and the Native American communities that have held meaningful relationships with us do as well. We will always be the Atlanta Braves."

Atlanta did say the tomahawk chop, a popular fan celebration with accompanying music, was one of the "issues that we are working through with the advisory group." A "Chop On" sign near the entrance to Atlanta's Truist Park home was removed in July.

The Braves have used their current name since arriving to Atlanta in 1966. They also used the nickname during the franchise's previous stops in Milwaukee and Boston. The organization started as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871.

Other monikers the team has used over its 149-year history include Bees, Rustlers, Doves, Beaneaters and Red Caps.