Racism alleged in fight over Seminole casino noise

Friday, June 9, 2006  

Leaders in the town of Davie, Florida, are accusing critics of the Seminole Tribe of holding racist views against Native people.

A small group of residents is fighting the tribe over alleged noise from the Hard Rock casino. A woman, who happens to sit on a town board, is circulating a cartoon that depicts Seminole leader Max Osceola as a "a drum-beating, half-naked barbarian," The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

Osceola, a council member, hasn't seen the cartoon and doesn't want to. "Historically non-natives have tried to ridicule or make fun of natives, so I just consider the source," he was quoted as saying.

Davie Mayor Tom Truex called the cartoon "racist and offensive." He wants the woman who sits on the town board removed.

Get the Story:
Davie mayor calls cartoon in Hard Rock casino noise debate 'racist' (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 6/9)
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