AlbertoChagas/iStock/Thinkstock(TORONTO) — Many Toronto sportscasters covering the American League Championship Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians are refusing to use the name of Cleveland’s team, saying it’s racist.
Jerry Howarth, radio voice of the Blue Jays, hasn’t used it since 1992, when he got a moving letter from a native man talking about the Atlanta Braves and its fan’s signature “Tomahawk Chop.”
“When you get a fan letter from someone who has lived it, and has breathed it, and said in this very eloquent way it’s just so offensive and we don’t like it,” Howarth said.
Jesse Wente, a former Ojibway journalist said, “it’s long overdue that we get rid of indigenous symbols in sporting mascots and logos, these are offensive to many, many indigenous people.”
The Indians, who won Game 1 of the series, have refused to change the name or drop its mascot.
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