Native Americans protest Washington Redskins before Vikings game [video]

Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has made it clear that he will not be changing the name of the franchise. Sunday, as his team prepared to face off against the Minnesota Vikings, over 2,000 Native Americans showed up to boycott the team.

The protestors carried signs, played drums and chanted, “Who are we? Not your mascot!” The  gathering began at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.

A stream of Native Americans, students and other activists arrived by bus, car and foot at an American Indian community center for one of two marches to the stadium.

Preparations for the protest have been underway for months. A Facebook page — #NotYourMascot Global Convergence, Rally & March — indicated that 13,000 people had been invited to the protest.

Unlike many NFL cities where Native Americans have little presence, their influence in the Twin Cities — and throughout Minnesota — is robust.

TCF Bank Stadium was built with the help of a $10 million donation from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. At the time, it was largest private gift to Gophers’ athletics. The stadium features a plaza that honors Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribes.