MINNEAPOLIS - The action at the Redskins-Vikings game started Sunday morning outside the stadium in Minnesota, as a crowd estimated by organizers around 5,000 rallied against Washingtons divisive nickname. Jonathan Allen Redskins Jersey .The event began with a march through the University of Minnesota campus to TCF Bank Stadium, where Native American leaders, local politicians, former sports stars and other speakers voiced their disdain for Redskins owner Dan Snyder and his refusal to change the nickname theyve derided as derogatory and racist.With many of the attendees wearing colorful, traditional Native American clothing and more holding signs, the gathering was by far the stiffest resistance for a Redskins road game and the latest push in a nationwide campaign that has cranked up over the last year. Some people wore burgundy T-shirts with gold lettering, mimicking the teams logo with the words Rethink and Rename instead of Redskins.Were not mascots! said former Vikings strong safety Joey Browner, one of 29 speakers who took the microphone on a lawn just steps from the stadium entrances.Browner, who is part Native American, wore a black Vikings cap with a feather sticking up out of it.As a former player I feel really sad right now. ... This is still standing in front of us, said Browner, a six-time Pro Bowl pick, who called the nickname a bullying tactic.The university co-ordinated logistics for the march and rally and organized programs on campus all week for awareness, discussion and education related to the nickname issue. One of the many institutions to call for a riddance of the Redskins name, the university, lacked the legal or contractual authority under the stadium use agreement with the Vikings to prevent the Redskins from playing there.The university pressed the Vikings to remove references to the nickname and logo during the game, but the team deferred to NFL policy.The Vikings have said theyve recognized the sensitivity of the issue and have maintained ongoing and respectful dialogue on the matter with Minnesotas significant Native American communities, citing strong and positive relationships with those groups.We respect and support our local community voices having an opportunity to be heard on this issue, the Vikings said in a statement earlier this week.The NFL didnt immediately respond for comment on the protest. Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this year the nickname has been presented in a way that honours Native Americans.According to organizer Lonny Leitner, a pro-Redskins rally of about 400 people, mostly Native Americans, also took place on campus a couple of blocks away. Signs like Native and proud to be a Redskin were present.According to results of an Associated Press-GfK poll last January, Snyder has support from the majority of the public. Among adults surveyed, 83 per cent said the Redskins should not have to change their nickname.Radio and television ads criticizing the nickname were rolled out in the Twin Cities market leading up to the game, and the city of Minneapolis to Hennepin County passed resolutions that called for a change of the nickname. Plenty of prominent Minnesota Democrats either spoke or attended the rally, from members of Congress in Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum to state legislators to Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges.The two-hour series of speeches was a peaceful gathering, including folk music and Native American dancers.As the rally got going, a group paraded along the sidewalk between the stadium and the stage, chanting: Hey, hey, ho, ho, this racist name has got to go!___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Troy Apke Jersey . Specifically, thumbs up to the Canadian-based teams in the NHL, or at least most of them. Pernell McPhee Redskins Jersey . -- Michigan coach John Beilein is willing to give Nik Stauskas a little leeway when it comes to shot selection. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redskins-Da-Ron-Payne-Jersey/ . - Pierre-Maxime Poudrier scored twice and added an assist, and Antoine Bibeau made 43 saves as the Val-dOr Foreur downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-3 on Sunday to force Game 7 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final series.Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler was doing damage control after practice on Thursday, refuting a report that hes asked for a trade. "I never commented to anyone that I wanted out," he explained. "My heart is with this group and making the playoffs." Kesler added that the rumours are "completely false" that he asked to be traded - recently or ever. "I dont want to talk about this," he continued. "I dont want this to be a distraction...Im happy to be here." While theres lots of speculation that the Canucks could be looking to move the 29-year-old centre, TVA Sports reported on Wednesday night that Kesler approached the team requesting to be deaalt. Alex Smith Jersey. Speaking to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post on Wednesday night, Keslers agent Kurt Overhardt also denied the story, calling it "a bunch of B.S." Kesler, 29, is recovering from a hand injury and did not dress on Wednesday night for Vancouvers post-Olympic opener against the St. Louis Blues. He hopes to play Friday night when the Canucks host the Minnesota Wild. He has two more years remaining on a six-year, $30 million contract, which pays him $5 million in each of the next two seasons. "Whether he wants to go or stay, hes not going anywhere," Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo told reporters. "We all know how this script ends." 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