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SCR 42
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S. C. R. No. 42 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

S. C. R. No. 42

Senator Kearney

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To encourage the Cleveland Indians baseball franchise to retire their nickname and mascot and to adopt a new nickname and a new mascot free of racial insensitivity.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, The Cleveland Indians professional baseball franchise is an enduring institution, which has contributed to the well-being of Ohioans for over a century; and

       WHEREAS, The franchise assumed its current nickname, the Indians, in 1915; and

       WHEREAS, Prior to 1915, the franchise had operated under numerous other nicknames including the Lake Shores, the Spiders, the Bluebirds, and the Naps; and

       WHEREAS, Many notable athletes such as Roberto Alomar, Steve Carlton, Bob Feller, Nap Lajoie, Frank Robinson, and Cy Young have played for the Cleveland franchise, some prior to the adoption of the current nickname; and

       WHEREAS, Louis Sockalexis, who played for the Cleveland Spiders between 1897 and 1899, may have been the first person of Native American ancestry to play for a major league baseball franchise; and

       WHEREAS, In 1947, Larry Doby became the first African-American to play in the American League when he joined the Cleveland Indians; and

       WHEREAS, In 1975, Frank Robinson was named player-manager by the Cleveland franchise, making Robinson the first black manager of a major league baseball franchise; and

       WHEREAS, The franchise nickname and the Chief Wahoo logo have been criticized for perpetuating Native American stereotypes; and

       WHEREAS, Native American groups have organized peaceful protests against the Cleveland Indians franchise for many years; and

       WHEREAS, Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed has called for the city to ban the display of the Cleveland Indians mascot Chief Wahoo on public property; and

       WHEREAS, In 2005, the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives adopted a resolution recommending the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams, and organizations; and

       WHEREAS, Other professional sports franchises, such as the Washington Redskins, are considering a name change; and

       WHEREAS, Miami University and Dartmouth College have changed their nicknames and mascots due to concerns of Native Americans and the perpetuation of stereotypes; and

       WHEREAS, A team named the Indians, or one that carries a mascot of a stereotypical Native American caricature, such as Chief Wahoo, is an affront to Native Americans; and

       WHEREAS, An evolving sense of decency and respect demand that the Cleveland Indians change their nickname and mascot; now therefore be it

       RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of the State of Ohio encourages the Cleveland Indians baseball franchise to retire its nickname and mascot and to adopt a new nickname and a new mascot free of racial insensitivity; and be it further

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the current owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball franchise, and to the news media of Ohio.