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Protest To Return To Chasco

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: March 14, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - American Indian Movement is planning to conduct a "peaceful" protest at the Chasco Fiesta street parade on March 21.

Ruby Beaulieu, executive director of American Indian Movement of Florida, said this week that she hopes to have a couple dozen protesters at the event in downtown New Port Richey.

The protest would mark the return of what had become a regular feature of Chasco Fiesta that has been absent the past few years.
Beaulieu views the Krewe of Chasco float as racially offensive because in her view Krewe members perpetuate negative stereotypes and caricatures of American Indians.

"The African-American 'mammy,' 'Sambo' and blackface performances have disappeared, as well as Frito Bandito," Beaulieu said in a statement.

"Oh, boy," the parade's longtime organizer, Roger Michels, said with a sigh of resignation when asked for comments about the protest.

"I wish they wouldn't, but so be it," Michels said. "I don't know if we've heard from them the last couple of years."

Wendy Brenner, Chasco Fiesta executive director, also thought the group did not appear at last year's parade.

Beaulieu, however, said a small band of protesters arrived late for last year's parade. The group has been reorganizing, she said.

"They're free to do what they want to do," Brenner said of the protesters. "It's a free country. I think it's kind of odd. If they don't like the event, they should stay away."

Brenner said she hopes the protest doesn't overshadow the mission of Chasco Fiesta: raising money for area community groups. Last year's fiesta cleared almost $300,000 to benefit local programs, she said.
American Indian Movement has not contacted Chasco organizers this year about its complaints, Brenner said. Beaulieu said she might seek a conference with organizers before the event.

Organizers have attempted to address the group's concerns about Chasco Fiesta, Brenner noted. For example, one of its oldest events, the Indian Pageant, was scrapped a number of years ago.

Group members objected to the pageant. It contained various historical inaccuracies and suggested the area's Indian inhabitants were savages in need of civilizing by the Spanish explorers who came here in the 16th century, the group said.

The pageant was based on a legend written in the 1920s by Gerben DeVries, New Port Richey's first postmaster.
Beaulieu noted there has been progress with the annual Native American Pow Wow and Festival, which will start Thursday.

In the past, non-Indian vendors and participants seemed to dominate the event, Beaulieu recalled.

"Now we have Native American dancers coming from all over, so it's a pretty decent Pow Wow," she said.

As for the parade protest this year, Beaulieu said "we're going to keep it kind of peaceful." American Indian Movement, she said, "hopes to educate the public" about stereotypes that denigrate American Indians.

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