The baseball team from Cleveland, Ohio, renames itself after allegations of racism.
Donald Trump describes the name change as a "shame".
Cleveland / Phoenix - The Cleveland, Ohio baseball team has changed its name.
Instead of "Cleveland Indians" it is now called "Cleveland Guardians".
The renaming was announced on Friday (July 23, 2021) via a Twitter video featuring fan Tom Hanks as the narrator.
The team will still play as "Indians" for the current season, and "Guardians" will be used for the coming 2022 season.
The team's new name is being
welcomed
by baseball fans
across
town and
across
the country
, according to a report by
Fansided
.
But there is a loud dissenting voice in the form of Donald Trump.
In a statement published on the same day, the former US president found clear words.
Trump rages against changing the name of a baseball team - repeatedly discriminatory term
“Can anyone believe the Cleveland Indians, a historic and esteemed baseball franchise that took its name in 1915, is changing its name to the Guardians?
What a shame, "said Trump.
The people of Cleveland are definitely not enthusiastic about it and he, as a former baseball fan, could not believe that something like this was happening.
During an event in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, Trump repeated these allegations in front of his listeners.
He went even further: “It's one of the greatest names, one of the most incredible logos, people love it.
In Ohio, they're going crazy because of the name change.
Cleveland Guardians?
What should it be?
The madness of the left knows no bounds ... “The ex-president used the discriminatory term several times, which will no longer be reproduced in the future due to the name change.
Trump rages against changing the name of a baseball team: The club parted with the chief logo in 2018
The decision to rename the “Cleveland Indians” is related to a major cultural upheaval in the US, in which institutions are dropping racist names and logos.
After long protests in 2018, the “Chief Wahoo” logo of the “Cleveland Indians” was removed from player jerseys and baseball caps.
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As early as 2018, the “Cleveland Indians”, now “Cleveland Guardians”, parted with the “Chief Wahoo” logo
© Trask Smith / Image / Zuma Wires
The death of George Floyd in May 2020 and the subsequent protests finally prompted club owner Paul Dolan to change the name.
He is on a confrontational course with Trump and hopes to reach an agreement by changing the controversial name.
In a statement, he said, “We recognize that the name change will be difficult for some of us, and the transition will take time.
It is our hope and belief that this change will turn us off a path that is divisive and instead lead us into a future where our fans, our city and our region are united as 'Cleveland Guardians'. "
Change of name of the “Cleveland Indians”: positive reaction from indigenous minister
Indigenous activists and politicians have also welcomed the renaming, including Deb Haaland, interior secretary in President Joe Biden's cabinet and first indigenous US minister. She wrote on Twitter: “I'm glad to see the Cleveland baseball team finally change their name. The prolonged use of mascots and images of the 'Native Americans' is detrimental to indigenous communities. "
