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Dozens of grassroots indigenous groups are hosting a ‘No Honor in Racism Rally' opposing the use of Native identity and culture as a mascot and demand an end the use of a racial slur by the Washington NFL Team. A prayer gathering, march, and press conference will be held prior to Today’ game at the Levis Stadium.
Bay Area Coalition Against Racism in Sports
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| Clyde Bellecourt photo by Jacqueline Keeler |
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| Above "An early bird agitator at the 49er and Washington team. Here Black Beret rep Naiche confronted him. We are here to educate not engage provocations." saidTony Gonzales . |
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| Photo Jacqueline Keeler, marching to Levi Stadium, now |
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| Photo Jacqueline Keeler now at No Honor in Racism, Levi Stadium, Santa Clara |
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| Photo Dahkota Kicking Bear, now Levi Stadium |
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| Ohlone prayer before march to Levi Stadium now Photo Jacqueline Keeler |
FOUR-HUNDRED GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS RALLY ON OHLONE LAND AGAINST WASHINGTON NFL TEAM NAMEBy Blu Wakpa, PhD. Bay Area Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media
Kris Longoria: urbanrezlife@gmail.comMorning Star Gali: mstargali@gmail.com
Previous press statement:OCCUPIED TAMIEN OHLONE TERRITORY (Santa Clara, California) – After successful demonstrations in O’odham (Glendale, Arizona) and Dakota (Twin Cities, Minnesota), four-hundred Indigenous Peoples and their allies poured into Tamien in solidarity with a national grassroots campaign to change the name and mascot of the Washington NFL team. Traveling by carpool, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and out-of-state flights, many amplified a growing voice for decolonization in sports.The demonstration began at 8 a.m. with a prayer at one of many desecrated sacred sites (shell mounds and burial grounds) maintaining its indigenous Ohlone place name, Ulistac. According to Corrina Gould, a Karkin and Chochenyo Ohlone, Uli is the name of an Ohlone warrior who inhabited the area and stac refers to place/land. The prayer to the land and ancestors was followed by a march to Levi’s Stadium held prior to the game between San Francisco and Washington.The peaceful event included a two-hour series of passionate and informed speeches from local, regional, and national activists, including people Indigenous to the area and upcoming leaders like Jacqueline Keeler of Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry (EONM) and Dahkota Brown a 16-year-old Wilton Miwok student and founder of Native Education Raising Dedicated Students (NERDS). Elders who’ve inspired future generations also spoke on the topic, including Charlene Teeters and Clyde Bellecourt of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media (NCRSM).Asian, African, and European people also educated fans by engaging, chanting, and holding picket signs and banners. Tribal African music blessed the event and recognized the similar histories between the African and Indigenous diaspora. Mexica (Aztec) dancers joined together in prayer, symbolizing the remembrance of the so-called Latino/Hispanic’s Indigeneity and pan-Indigenous interests across the colonial US-MX border.Radio and television ads criticizing the nickname were aired throughout Ohlone and Miwok territories leading up to the game. Many broadcasters became allies when they chose not to mention Washington’s mascot. Audiences must understand the scalps of Indigenous Peoples were captured to collect bounties from the United States and expand White Supremacy outside of Europe.Although Washington’s team owner, Dan Snyder, has vowed to “never change the name” and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell said earlier this year the nickname has been “presented in a way that honors Native Americans,” the demonstrations outside Levi’s Stadium and nationwide indicate Indigenous decolonization and self-determination is inevitable.As fans passed the demonstration, many were quite surprised. “I’ve been a Washington fan for a long time and I’ve seen more resistance the last few years,” says Brian Jones, 35. He continued, “This demonstration helps me understand the mascot impacts actual people. It made me think about the other side of this issue.” John, 29, agreed saying, “When I see actual Native American’s are offended—I have to respect that.”A die-hard Washington fan, Robert Magnini, 60, said, “I’ve been a fan since I was a kid. I think the name is offense and we need to change the name as soon as possible.”Not all Indigenous Peoples agree, including Joseph Rey Potter, 14, who passed the demonstration wearing a Washington jersey and a Pomo baseball hat. “My Dad was a fan, so I just stayed with it. I understand it’s racist, but I’m just a fan of the game.” Potter concluded, “If they changed their name, I’d be a bigger fan.”Kris Longoria and Antonio Gonzales, co-chairs of the Bay Area Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media, said they will continue to escalate pressure on the NFL football team and build more partnerships with local organizations and government institutions.Many urgent struggles exist across the Western Hemisphere and we must all do our part to challenge colonialism and honor Indigenous nations, leadership, and goals. Antonio Gonzales said, “People see this issue is winnable, attainable, and they become empowered to move onto the bigger issues.”A grandmother and her granddaughter appeared severely wounded, covered in bloody hair and hair buns held together with knives. “Redskin means someone whose been scalped, so me and my grandma put fake blood all over to show what a redskin means,” said Calissa Gali, 11. “None of my friends know what redskin means. They should learn at school, but some of the teachers don’t want to talk about it.”Sacred Sites Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSPRIT) has transferred the pain of another desecrated Ohlone Shell Mound in Karkin by decolonizing Vallejo High School’s Apaches and Solano Middle School’s Chieftains this year. The connections between appropriated sacred sites and stereotypes in sports are undeniable.SSPRIT are now contractors, collaborating with students and administrators to educate about Indigenous mascots at school assemblies. Teacher training was also included in the negotiations to foster an integrated ethnic studies program across the school district. A duplication of this attainable model is also occurring with the Carquinez Coalition to Change the Mascot (CCCM) for John Swett High School Indians in Karkin (Crocket, CA).Changing Washington’s name and mascot is not the end of changes to come. Colonization was several lifetimes of trauma and decolonization will take several lifetimes of healing. We envision post-colonialism. We’re not your mascot anymore.Bay Area Coalition Against Racism in Sports is sponsored by American Indian Movement-West, Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits, Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry, Indian People Organizing for Change, Sacred Sites Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes, ANSWER Coalition, Idle No More SF Bay, and National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. National ‘Change the Mascot’ supporters can be found at: http://www.changethemascot.org/supporters-of-change/ #NotYourMascot #ChangeTheName #ChangeTheMascot #NoHonorInRacism
Dozens of grassroots indigenous groups are hosting a ‘No Honor in Racism Rally' opposing the use of Native identity and culture as a mascot and demand an end the use of a racial slur by the Washington NFL Team. A prayer gathering, march, and press conference will be held prior to Today’ game at the Levis Stadium.
Times and Location: Sunday, November 23rd, 2014
8:00am - Prayer Gathering @ Ulistac Natural Area; 4901 Lick Mill Blvd, Santa Clara, CA.
9:30 am - Begin the march from Ulistac to Levi’s Stadium; 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, at the cross streets of Great America Pkwy and Tasman Ave; Santa Clara, CA.
10:00am - Press Conference & Rally @ the above location.Bay Area Coalition Against Racism in Sports
Censored News
A large coalition of grassroots California Indigenous organizations and allies are holding a ‘No Honor In Racism Rally’ as part of the national movement demanding that the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell end the use of the racial epithet in the league.
In addition to #GameOverForRacism banners, signs, and speakers, planned activities at the rally also include honoring Native culture and traditions with Native-led singing, drumming, and dancing. The protest is part of a series of nationwide actions at NFL games to “Change the Name & Change the Mascot!”. that have been held at the Washington team’s away games against the Cardinals, Cowboys, Vikings, and will occur at the Washington team’s home game on December 28th.
