Anti-Redskins ad to air during NBA finals

The campaign to change the name and mascot of the Washington Redskins is heating up.

Tonight, during game three of theNBA finals, a 60-second ad that is critical of the Redskins namewill air in seven U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C. It was produced by the National Congress of American Indians.

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The ad is an excerpt from the video Proud To Be, which highlights thestrengths and positive attributes of indigenous peoples, as well as featuringprominent aboriginalpeople throughout history.

Thevideo ends by saying, "Native Americans call themselves many things, the one thing they don't...." and the final image is a picture of Redskins helmet.

The video has been seen nearly two million times on YouTube since its release before Super BowlXXLVIIearlier this year.

The Yocha Dehe WintunNation in California said it paid a "significant amount" for the prime-time spot, but that the Change the Mascot fight is worth it.

"Its just a time to get people thinking about putting an end to outward hatred and using sports as a tool to focus on racism," said YochaDehe Wintun tribal chairman Marshall McKay in a video.

"When people slur a race, its damaging. Im hoping the Change the Mascot campaign will make people realize that a name, a mascot, is hurtful."

Tribal secretary JamesKintersaid, "We hope that this empowers people so they can speak up, speak their word about how theyfeel aboutthese types of images being used in professional sports and entertainment. This is just plain wrong."

The Washington Redskins organization has been facingincreasing pressure to change the name, but owner Dan Snyder has said it is a "badge of honor" and he will never change it.