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AIM To Renew Chasco Fiesta Parade Protest

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: March 12, 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 today that she hopes to have a couple of 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. There has not, however, been a major protest the last 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 wrote in a press release.

"Oh, boy," the parade's longtime organizer, Roger Michels, said with a sigh of resignation when asked for comments about the AIM 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 AIM did not appear at last year's parade.

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

"They're free to do what they want to do," Brenner commented about AIM 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 hopes the protest doesn't overshadow the mission of Chasco Fiesta, raising money for area community groups. The 2008 Chasco cleared almost $300,000 to benefit local programs, she said.

AIM has not contacted Chasco organizers this year about their complaints, Brenner said. Beaulieu said she might seek a conference with organizers before the event.

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

AIM 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, AIM 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 March 19.

"I can say the Pow Wow has improved," Beaulieu remarked today. In the past, non-Indian vendors and participants seemed to dominate the event, the AIM leader 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." AIM, she said, "hopes to educate the public" about stereotypes that denigrate Native Americans.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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