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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the July 24, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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All-Star protesters hit baseball's racist images

By Martha Grevatt in Cleveland

On July 8, close to 100 people turned out for a multinational demonstration outside baseball's All-Star game. They were there to protest professional sports teams' continued use of racist stereotypes and caricatures of Indigenous people.

The demonstration was called by the Committee of 500 Years. For several years this group has been demanding that the Cleveland "Indians" change their name and drop their racist "Chief Wahoo" mascot.

People came from across the country. Speakers included Juan Reyna of the Committee of 500 Years, Vernon Bellecourt of the American Indian Movement, and Charlene Teeters of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and the Media.

There was also a strong showing of Native, African American, Latino, Asian and white people--a good number young people--from Cleveland.

How powerfully the Cleveland team's mascot image has reinforced backward attitudes was demon strated when fans on their way to the game expressed racism toward the protesters. But some fans did express support.

Team owner Richard Jacobs, one of the richest men in Ohio, has made a fortune on "Wahoo" paraphernalia. He refuses to even discuss dropping the despicable logo and name. The com mittee is discussing plans for another protest.

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