CALL FOR SUPPORT; CAMPAIGN TO END NEGATIVE STEREOTYPING AGAINST NATIVE E
AMERICANS IN SPORTS AND THE MEDIA
There are many struggles in which Native peoples find themselves these da
we recongnize that time and energy are limited. We ask that that this struggle
to
to remove Chief Wahoo and the name Indians fr Cleveland baseball be supported
in any way possible, if only to publicize it in other areas.
The National Coalition against Racism in SPorts and the Media and the
Ohio Native American community has called for and is planning a major
demonstration in Cleveland, Ohio to disrupt the opening of the brand new
Gateway ballpark in April 1994. The protest is part of an ongoing campaign
to eliminate demeaning images such as Chief Wahoo, and the name Indians, from
sports at all levels. Negotiations to retire the name and the log have met
with little success, but support for change is growing both locally and state-
wide. With the Cleveland baseball team having another miserable season, and th
the approaching move next to a new taxpayer funded stadium, thiyear1993
represents an unprecedented opportunity to achieve in professional sports what
has been happening steadily in collegiate and high school sports - the removal
of names like Indians, Redskins, Warriors, Red Men, Chiefs, Braves, Apaches,
Blackhawks which trivialize Native American culture.
The Cleveland Indians baseball team owner and city developer, Mr. Richar
Jacobs has refused to discontinue the racist Chief Wahoo logo and the misuse
of the name, Indians. He was quoted on June 30th, as affirming that the name
Indians and the Wahoo logo are "joined at the hip," and that both will remain.
He added that the bucktoothed and grinning Chief Wahoo is a caricature of a
"brave race, a noble race." This is the same man who perennially begs tax
abatements for his downtown parking lots and shopping malls.
The campaing to remove negative stereotypes against all cultures is
gathering steam in Cleveland, centered around the Chief Wahoo issue. The
Native American community is steadily gaining allies by educating the public
about the religious and cultural significance of traditional ways, which are
degraded by overzealous fans, insensitive media, and money hungry corporate
promoters.
The coalition of the Ohio Native American groups and allied organizations
is planning demonstrations on both the last game of this final season at the Old
Stadium (Oct. 3) and a much larger demonstration to di}i}ir}i~r{_qVG srupt the
opening of the
publicly financed Gateway complex.
On Sunday, Oct. 3.", 1993 there will be a demonstration to protest the
continuation of Chief Wahoo and the name Indians. The game is sold out and we
expect a large trunout in opposition to show that support is growing for change.
In the fist week of April 1994, a much larger demonstration is being
planned to disrupt the opening of Cleveland's brand new baseball-basketball
complex, Gateway. Gateway was financed with $275 million in public sin taxes,
and Cleveland's corporate elite, especially the team's owner, Dick Jacobs, are
looking forward to a national media event that reflects positively on the city
on opening day. The Gateway complex has been controversial due to the heavy
public subsidies, cost overruns and the lack of citizen oversight. With
national media in Cleveland to cover the opening of the new park, we intend to
assure that the city image which is broadcast to the rest of the country will n
not be one of progress, but one of racist intolerance.
We are working now to enlist the support and participation of Native
American organizations, allied non-Native organizations, and recognized
activist leaders on this issue. We will have representation of all Ohio
Native American organizations on October 3, for the last game. We hope to
have thousands of people attend the opening day 1994 demonstration.
Our struggle is one of education. We are also working with area
schools and other educational institutions to teach students and adults about
Native American culture. We are following the precedent of other states, such
as Wisconsin and Minnesota, which have mandated that publicly funded schools not
use mascots, names or logos whh have been deemed offensive to Native Americans.
The Cleveland Board of Education has issued a resolution in support of our
campaign against Wahoo and we are working with them to eliminate racist mascots
from area secondary schools.
While this campaign is being waged nationally, in Atlanta, Kansas City
Washington, and the University of Illinois, we feel Cleveland represents the
best opportunity for a professional sports team to consider changing its name
and logo. We are asking for the support of all Native American groups who
support this campaign. You can support our struggle by spreading the word,
organizing demonstrations in your city against the Cleveland team (which have
already occured in Kansas City and Minneapolis), or even planning to attend
either the October or APril demonstrations.
For more information, please send responses via email to vmcelhinny.
The Ohio coalition can be reached at (216) 631-4767. Thank you.