From: Aimfl@aol.com
Message-ID: <67bf081d.24733e9d@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 18:07:25 EDT
Subject: RACISM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT OF FLORIDA IS DEMANDING THAT THE LEON
COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGE THE NAME OF THE MASCOT AT RICKARDS
HIGH SCHOOL. THE
EFFORT IS PART OF AN ONGOING EFFORT TO ERADICATE THE USE OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES AS A SPORTS MASCOT WHICH INVARIABLY TRIVIALIZES AND DEGRADES INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES AND CULTURES IN A CIRCUS LIKE ATMOSPHERE
NUMEROUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COLLEGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ABANDONED
USING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURE AS A MASCOT FOR AMERICA'S FUN AND
GAMES,
THEREBY LEADING THE WAY ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.
DUE TO THE LOSS OF TRADEMARK PROTECTION FOR THE WASHINGTON NFL TEAM, FLORIDA AIM AND OTHER RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS PLAN AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO FORCE THE REMOVAL OF THE INDIGENOUS MASCOT AT ALL FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COLLEGE'S.
NO OTHER RACE OR ETHNIC GROUP OR RELIGIOUS GROUP IS FORCED TO TOLERATE
THIS ALLEGED "HONORING". THERE ARE NO BLACKSKINS IN WHICH THE MASCOT ACTS
IN A
STEREOTYPICALLY RACIST VERSION OF AFRICAN CULTURE. NO CATHOLICS
IN WHICH THE MASCOT POPE DOES THE LAMBADA WITH THE MASCOT NUN TOSSING COMMUNION
WAFERS
WHILE FANS DO THE CRUCIFIX CHOP. SUCH DISRESPECT WOULD NOT AND SHOULD
NOT BE TOLERATED. HOWEVER IT IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
AND
CULTURES.
FLORIDA AIM PREFERS THE DIALOUGE OF COOPERATION TO THE RHETORIC OF
CONFRONTATION AND THEREFORE URGES THE LEON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REMOVE
THIS VESTIGE OF RACISM FROM ITS SCHOOLS.
TO VOICE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RICKARDS REDSKINS CALL
850-488 1783 (RICKARDS HS)
850-487-7100 SCHOOL DISTRICT
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