Both the Detroit Lions and the Red Wings issued statements decrying the use of their logo by white nationalists during last weekend’s clash in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Lions spoke up after images of a white nationalist carrying a shield with a version of the team’s lion logo was seen in media coverage of the unrest.
The photo in question depicts a man holding a large round shield and carrying a club. On the shield is a red, white, and blue lion similar to the NFL team’s logo as well as the Swedish phrase “Nog Ar Nog,” which in English means “enough is enough.”
The image on the protester’s shield changed the white outline and blue color scheme of the Lions logo, but the shape is clearly the same:
“We detest and disavow any use or implied use of the Detroit Lions logo or any of our marks in association with the event this past Saturday in Charlottesville,” Lions spokesman Bill Keenist told the Detroit Free Press. “We value diversity as it represents the strong fabric of our team, the City of Detroit, the NFL, the game of football, our fans and our country.”
Detroit’s NHL franchise also decried the use of its logo by white nationalist protesters.
The Red Wings’ tire and wing logo was copied by a group calling itself the “Detroit Right Wings.” The group only lightly altered the Red Wing’s logo for its own use making minor changes to the shape of the feathers and the hub of the wheel.
“The Detroit Red Wings vehemently disagree with and are not associated in any way with the event taking place today in Charlottesville, Va.,” the Red Wings said in a statement released on Monday.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.