Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Thirty-five members and supporters of the American Indian Movement of Florida from across Florida protested the Chasco Indian Pagent last night, Wednesday, March 21, 2001, for four hours, under intensive police activity.

More than a dozen AIM members and supporters slipped into Sims Park and took seats in the front row.

At the beginning of the pagent Florida AIM State Field Director, Jennifer Tweedie, began the crew in chanting "THE LEGEND STOPS HERE" and "STOP THE RACISM". The group was immediatly surrounded by more than a dozen New Port Richey Police officers and Pasco County Sheriffs deputies, including the K-9 Unit. The group then reunited with AIM members and supporters, who had set up a protest zone behind the spectators of the Chasco Indian pagent.

Florida AIM State Executive Director Sheridan Murphy was briefly detained for using a bull-horn. AIM members and supporters were ordered by the pervasive police and sheriff officers present to not shout. Florida AIM member Kashka Larue was also ordered to be silent by officers.

Two members of the Pasco Green Party were breifly detained for leafleting in the park, which we were told violated New Port Richey ordinances which prohibit leaftleting in the park.