Cleveland Indians to Remove ‘Chief Wahoo’ Logo from Uniforms in 2019 | Sojourners

Cleveland Indians to Remove ‘Chief Wahoo’ Logo from Uniforms in 2019

Sep 13, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Fans hold signs in the first inning of a game between the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announced that the Cleveland Indians will remove the "Chief Wahoo" logo from their uniforms in the 2019 season on Jan. 29, according to The New York Times.

"Major League Baseball is committed to building a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the game,” Manfred said in a press release. “Over the past year, we encouraged dialogue with the Indians organization about the club’s use of the Chief Wahoo logo. During our constructive conversations, Paul Dolan made clear that there are fans who have a longstanding attachment to the logo and its place in the history of the team."

The Chief Wahoo logo has long been a point of contention for critics who call the mascot racially insensitive and offensive, akin to the Washington Redskins

The New York Times reports:

Protests against the team names, logos and mascots have flared occasionally over the past few decades. The N.F.L.’s Washington Redskins are seen by many as having one of the most egregiously insensitive nicknames, though the team and the league have expressed little interest in changing it. The Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball also have drawn criticism, especially for the so-called Tomahawk chant performed by fans at games.

Read more here.