Protesters Call For Indians To Change Nickname, Logo
TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — Chanting "We are people, not your mascots," several dozen protesters gathered outside the Indians' home opener urging the team to change its nickname and abolish the Chief Wahoo logo.
The protest has taken place each year on opening day for several decades. On Friday, the protesters, many of them Native Americans, carried signs that said: "Change the logo, change the name" and "Rethink, rename, rebrand" as fans walked into Progressive Field for the game against the Detroit Tigers.
Philip Yenyo, executive director of the American Indian Movement of Ohio, said while the team has changed its primary logo to a block "C'' and lessened Wahoo's profile, it hasn't been enough.
Yenyo says the logo is demeaning to Native Americans. He believes there are more Cleveland fans than ever who are sympathetic with their fight, and the movement has been helped by the protest against the Washington Redskins.
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