News from American Indian Movement, Florida
Copyright © 2000 AIMFL
Saint Petersburg, FL - The American Indian Movement of Florida (AIMFL) in response to the inactive response of the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce to concerns of AIM and Indigenous people regarding the racist, degrading, stereotypical depiction's of Native people by the Chasco Fiesta, are calling for a "tourist boycott" of Pasco County and will begin to actively call upon progressive and European communities and organizations to support the boycott of Pasco County, FL until such time as the Chasco Festival is appropriately changed.The Chasco Festival is based on the anti-Indian writings of postal employee Gerben Devires. The festival is based on "Chasco" who chooses the Christianity way over the Native way. The words of the pageant and Devries script and the premise for the festival refer to Native people as "Savages", "Heathens" and the "people who betrayed Christ". Devries racist script is the basis for a pageant, which is the basis for the festival.
AIM Florida had offered the dialogue of cooperation to the festival, but was rebuffed by their recent response and now must act proactively to insure that this festivals racism is expunged.
AIMFL will begin aggressively encouraging sponsors of the festival to withdraw their support from this degrading, disgraceful stereotypical festival. The American Indian Movement of Florida is asking major sponsors of the Chasco Fiesta, including but not limited to Publix, Peoples Bank, AmSouth, 971.FM, WQYK, and others to withdraw support of the Chasco Fiesta until such time as changes are made to the festival.
|
For more information contact:
American Indian Movement of Florida
Sheridan Murphy, AIMFL State Executive Director Related path(s): |