Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
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Twenty members and supporters of the American Indian Movement of Florida (AIM Florida) moved into the street during the annual Festival of States parade in Saint Petersburg, FL and blocked the Chasco Krewe float-which was replete with 75 white people dressed up in Pebble's and Bam Bam outfits, face paint, "war bonnets" doing woops and behaving in a grotesquely stereotypical manner.

AIM Florida members and supporters blocked the floats passage for 4 1/2 minutes as Saint Petersburg Police officers roughly shoved AIM members off of the street and attempted to sieze the AIM banner used to help block the floats passage.

The executive director of AIM Florida , Sheridan Murphy, was attacked by a Saint Petersburg Police officer who threw his bicycle at him, Mr. Murphy tossed the bike back at the officer.

The American Indian Movement of Florida vows that the Chasco Fiesta and the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce will know no peace until the festival is changed, and will be able to appear nowhere without being confronted and challenged. Sheridan Murphy, AIM Florida's executive director, has vowed to escalate the efforts from here.