We were glad earlier this week that the U.S Patent and Trademark Office canceled the Washington Redskins trademark registration on its name, calling the professional football team’s name “disparaging to Native Americans.”

Over the decades since the slur was first widely used, this country has overcome many challenges with racism. Any remnant of a hateful past that degrades human beings, especially a group discriminated against throughout history, has no place in our culture.

With some claiming the name honors Native Americans, it must be made clear the word is only filled with hate and in no way brings anything other than disrespect to many people in this country.

We hope this decision puts more pressure on the NFL and the team to finally get rid of its use. We hope the team’s owner, Daniel Snyder, gets the message.