AIM WEST to Protest Baseball Games When Cleveland Team Comes to Town

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

OAKLAND – American Indian Movement West is asking for a support of solidarity to demonstrate at the Oakland Coliseum when the Oakland A's play the Cleveland baseball team beginning Friday, April 20. The demonstrations will continue all weekend when the A's play Cleveland on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22.

At issue is the name of the Cleveland baseball team. American Indian Movement West contends, as do the vast majority of American Indians throughout the North America, the use of American Indian mascots are racist in nature.

“The humiliation and disgust felt by Indigenous peoples can also be said to destroy the cultures, and self-esteem of our youth and demeans our peoples,”

states Tony Gonzales, director of American Indian Movement West.

“The United Nations also makes reference to this practice, see attached report, and in the recent UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 2007.”

Gonzales cites the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights, under its category III Life and Security, in article # 8, to substantiate his claim:

Those interested in joining the demonstration are asked to join the protest at the Oakland Coliseum gate at the end of the tunnel extension from the Oakland BART, the mass transit rail station.

posted April 11, 2012 10:30 am edt