Wahoo Protesters: A Century of ‘Indians’ is Enough (video)
- April 13, 2015
- Tom Beres
Anti-Wahoo protests have become a predictable part of Opening Day and Friday will be no exception.
CLEVELAND — 2015 marks 100 years of Cleveland's major league baseball team being called the Indians.
Native American protesters and their supporters say it's a logical time to retire both the name and mascot Chief Wahoo, claiming they are racist and offensive.
They argue the city is remaking its image and trying to be a diverse and welcoming place and think parting company with Wahoo now makes sense.
Anti-Wahoo protests have become a predictable part of Opening Day and Friday will be no exception.
Protesters will march to Progressive Field and protest outside the park.
The group — The Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance — invited national Native American leaders to be part of the events.
Philip Yenyo, of the American Indian Movement in Ohio, said, " I think the city has a heart and I think the residents in this city have a heart . It's just been misplaced….We want to have our dignity just like everybody else…but that logo degrades us and makes us feel less than human."
Indians owner Paul Dolan has said the team is trying to be respectful of Wahoo critics. But it also hears fans who want to keep Wahoo as part of the tradition. Team surveys found most fans want to keep Wahoo.
But the team has put forth the block C as its primary and most visible symbol. It's more prominent on banners around Progressive Field.
And there's no big in-your-face Wahoo on display inside the park. Dolan says, "We have no plans to change what we are doing."