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Wahoo Garb Not P.C. at Cuyahoga CountyExecutive Director John Lonsak has forbidden employees from wearing clothing or other paraphernalia bearing the red face of the grinning Cleveland Indians mascot, Chief Wahoo. “I felt that Wahoo is a caricature that is demeaning to Indians and people concerned with diversity,” he told American Libraries. “Our library is dedicated to diversity and Wahoo is insulting to some,” he said. “It’s offensive to minorities, just like Little Black Sambo.” Lonsak announced the ban in an e-mail to 700 employees in the system April 2, three days before the home opener. He allowed any other team attire. The library has made a tradition of having dress-down days during home games so employees could show support of their team. Library union president Cynthia Sledz told the April 20 Cleveland Plain Dealer that the majority of union members oppose the ban; Lonsak claimed the staff had been “pretty good about it.” A state representative plans to introduce a bill preventing publicly funded institutions from banning sports team logos. Posted April 26, 1999. |
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