Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The American Indian Movement of Florida held three days of protests against the use of Indian people as sports mascot by the Cleveland MLB team in front of Tropicana Field August 6, 7,8. Florida AIM members were joined in solidarity by members of the National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement and African People's Solidarity Committee as well as the Refuge.

On the first day of the protest Saint Petersburg Police informed Florida AIM State Executive Director Sheridan Murphy and Florida AIM State Support Group Coordinator Gloria Cox that all AIM members and supporters were "trespassed" or given a formal trespass warning from Tropicana Field property by Tampa Bay Devil Rays owner Vince Namoli and would be arrested for trespassing if they were caught walking on the property. In the wake of Sheridan and David Narcomey's ejection from Tropicana Field on August 7th, the police additionally informed Sheridan Murphy that no visible or known Florida AIM members or supporters were be permitted entrance to Tropicana Field even with a ticket-refunds would be made available but any AIM member or supporter known to them attempting entrance would be charged with felony trespassing-applicable complaints are being made and legal action is being considered.

Highlights of the protest included the distribution of more than 7,000 flyers to fans and burning of a Cleveland "Indians" flag. On August 7th, Florida AIM State Executive Director, Sheridan Murphy, and North Florida AIM Director, David Narcomey, obtained tickets and entered Tropicana Field. They displayed a banner stating, "American Indians are a People not a Sports Mascot for America's Fun and Games" directly across from home plate.

A Tropicana Field security guard ordered the pair to take down the banner, but they refused because the guard could not explain why it was okay to display banners saying, "GO WADE" and "D-Rays Sez..", but their banner was not permissible. Another pair of security guards were also unable to provide Murphy and Narcomey with an explanation, either based on a state statute or other valid distinguishing reason.

Three Pinellas County sheriff deputies joined the four Tropicana Field security guards in escorting both Mr. Narcomey and Mr. Murphy from Tropicana Field for the duration of the Cleveland-Tampa Bay series. Mr Murphy was later informed that the banner was removed because it was offensive to Cleveland fans and to Devil Rays owner Vince Namoli!