Indy shows how protests 'can (and should be) done' during NBA Finals, police union president says
And the whole thing went off without serious issue.
While basketball fans lined up to file into Gainbridge Fieldhouse about 7 p.m. June 11, people chanted outside the arena to protest federal deportations, first staging at the corner of East Georgia and South Pennsylvania streets before marching a few blocks, occasionally blocking traffic.
"Last night showed (protests) can be done safely and without violence," cheered Indiana police union leader Rick Snyder in a statement to media. He vowed police "will always protect the Rights of Americans to peaceably assemble and petition their Government for redress of grievances."
The Indianapolis demonstration remained nonviolent, in contrast to anti-immigrant protests in Los Angeles, where a city-wide curfew was implemented after days of clashes between law enforcement and agitators.
Just before 7 p.m. June 11, about a dozen protesters handed out flyers and signs to passersby. The crowd grew as the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's officer presence also increased. A speaker pointed toward basketball fans during anti-deportation speeches, prompting at least two people to yell "Go Pacers!" and a short chant of "USA."
Indianapolis police were seen carrying pepper ball guns, less-than-lethal weapons that shoot balls designed to burst on impact and release pepper powder. None were fired. In a speech, one organizer told protesters not to antagonize law enforcement.
An organizer said the crowd was a thousand people at its peak, while Indianapolis police put the count at about 500 based on drone footage and crowd density.
Indianapolis police urged protesters toward the sidewalk as the group marched downtown. At one point, law enforcement moved crowds so an ambulance could pass. Marching ended on East Georgia Street around 8:30 p.m.
"IMPD, KKK, IOF, it's all the same!' the crowd chanted, referring to the Ku Klux Klan and Israeli Occupation Forces. "I prefer crushed ICE," read one sign referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who facilitate deportations.
Snyder said he applauded law enforcement agencies and Indianapolis residents for showing how peaceful assembly "can (and should) be done."
Hours before the protest, images and rumors circulated online indicating ICE raids may have occurred near 42nd Street and Richelieu Road in Lawrence.
On June 11, IndyStar reporters spoke with neighbors in the area who confirmed law enforcement activity. The owner of a self-serve laundry in the area also said they caught video of law enforcement in the area.
A since-deleted social media post shared around 7:30 a.m. depicted several photos of men wearing vests that said "Police ICE."
Lawrence Police Department said it was not aware of or involved in any ICE arrests in the city, and ICE officials did not respond to IndyStar questions about it at the time of publication.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis protest shows how they 'can (and should be) done,' FOP says
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USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Why did the Commanders change their name? President Trump urges Washington to switch back
The Washington Commanders thought they could finally put their name controversy behind them, but the nation's capital has a way of relitigating the past. This offseason, Washington inked a deal to return to their old home on the RFK Stadium site and also reimagined their old Super Bowl era uniforms in what some believe could be a precursor to a jersey rebrand. Plans for the stadium have stalled while Mayor Muriel Bowser battles with the Washington D.C. council to get it approved. The mayor has expressed concern about the deal, while the Commanders may run into a speedbump for future plans. Now the Commanders face another potential obstacle en route to a stadium deal, this time against the Commander in Chief. On July 20, President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he could block a deal if the team doesn't bring back their old name. "I may put a restriction on them that if they don't change the name back to the original 'Washington Redskins,' and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, 'Washington Commanders,' I won't make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington," Trump posted on Truth Social. Here's a look at how we got here, including the origin of the Commanders' name change, whether they can change it back and what the President has said about the issue. Why did the Commanders change their name? Washington's NFL franchise introduced the "Commanders" moniker in advance of the 2022 season after two years as the Washington Football Team. The move was necessitated by the overwhelming pressure that began to mount against the much more controversial namesake. Originally born into the NFL in 1932 as the Boston Braves, the franchise changed its name after one season to the version considered offensive to Native Americans in 1933. It was a name that remained through the team's relocation to Washington in 1937 and withstood the test of time until the it couldn't anymore ahead of the 2020 season. Following George Floyd's death in Minnesota, protests broke out across the country in opposition to police brutality and racism. That also put the spotlight on Washington's team, which began feeling the heat from sponsors like FedEx, Nike and PepsiCo. Adweek reported in 2020 that 87 investment firms worth a collective $620 billion at the time sent a letter to some of the team's biggest sponsors – FedEx, Nike and PepsiCo – asking them to sever ties with the team if they refused the name change. Previous owner Dan Snyder was adamant for years that the name would never be changed. "We will never change the name of the team," Snyder told USA TODAY Sports in 2013. "As a lifelong (name) fan, and I think that the (name) fans understand the great tradition and what it's all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season." Despite years of lawsuits and pressure from Native American groups, Snyder vowed he would never cave on the issue. "We'll never change the name," Snyder said at the time. "It's that simple. NEVER – you can use caps." However, the sponsors threats were more than enough for Snyder to reconsider his position and the old name was removed ahead of the 2020 season, sparking a search for a new one. "We are announcing we will be retiring the (former) name and logo upon completion of this review," the team said in a statement and that team officials were "working closely to develop a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years." 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"They name teams out of STRENGTH, not weakness, but now the Washington Redskins & Cleveland Indians, two fabled sports franchises, look like they are going to be changing their names in order to be politically correct," Trump tweeted in response to the initial change. He renewed that rhetoric on July 20, when he threatened to block the team's new stadium deal in the district, adding they should immediately bring back the old name. "I may put a restriction on them that if they don't change the name back to the original 'Washington Redskins,' and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, 'Washington Commanders,' I won't make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington," Trump later posted. "The Team would be much more valuable, and the Deal would be more exciting for everyone," he continued, adding that the Cleveland Guardians should also follow suit. It's unclear what power the president has in this case, considering Congress turned over control of the RFK Stadium land to the city with the passage of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act in January. Will the Commanders change their name? It's unlikely a move back to the old controversial nickname will happen, given recent stance from team brass. If there was any doubt, team owner Josh Harris seemingly put a return to the old name to bed at a press conference in February. "Now, in this building, the name Commanders means something," Harris said. "It's about players who love football, are great at football, hit hard, mentally tough, great teammates. It's really meaningful that that name is growing in meaning." While the owner acknowledged that the team will honor its past, he pointed out that the name is here to stay. "I think it's now being embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff. And so we're going with that," Harris said. Not only have the Commanders shown no interest in reverting to their name, but NFL rules dictate that it might not be a possibility at this time either. As any name change would also be likely be accompanied with new jerseys, the NFL's uniform rules come into focus. As detailed in 2002 Resolution G-3 under Article 19 of the NFL's constitution, a team cannot change its jerseys more than once every five years. Given that the team just unveiled new jerseys ahead of the 2022 season, they cannot make a switch again until 2027. There is a clause for "extenuating circumstances" built in that would allow for a faster rebrand. It is determined by the commissioner, but relocation and ownership change are considered extenuating. Any name change would likely need the approval of the league, as was the case in 2020 when Washington first changed its team nickname to the Commanders. What Trump has said about the Cleveland Guardians The Commanders aren't the only team that faced controversy surrounding their team name. MLB's Cleveland Guardians also drew the ire of Trump, who suggested they should also bring back their old name. Cleveland didn't make the move until ahead of the 2022 MLB season, three years after they dropped the "Chief Wahoo" mascot and logo. Trump said that it was cancel culture in a 2020 tweet, indicating he was no fan of that decision. The Guardians arrived at the conclusion to change their name after team owner Paul Dolan changed his stance on the matter, citing a changing world in the aftermath of the social unrest in 2020. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
San Francisco Chronicle
9 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
The history of Native American sports name changes, from the Obama era to Trump's latest comments
President Donald Trump's social media posts calling for the NFL's Washington Commanders and Major League Baseball's Cleveland Guardians to revert to their old names has revived the conversation about Native American imagery in sports. Each team has indicated it has no plans to go back to names that were abandoned years ago in the aftermath of a reckoning over racial injustice, iconography and racism in the U.S. following the death of George Floyd. Other professional teams have maintained names and logos through criticism and calls from activists who say they are offensive. October 2013 Then-President Barack Obama told The Associated Press he would 'think about changing' the name of the Washington Redskins if he owned the team. 'I don't know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things,' Obama said. Trump soon after posted to Twitter: 'President should not be telling the Washington Redskins to change their name-our country has far bigger problems! FOCUS on them,not nonsense.' January 2018 The Cleveland Indians announced they would remove the Chief Wahoo logo from their uniforms the following year after decades of protests and complaints that the grinning, red-faced caricature used in one version or another since 1947 is racist. 'Major League Baseball is committed to building a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the game,' Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. He said the logo 'is no longer appropriate for on-field use.' The team said it would continue to sell merchandise with the logo in the Cleveland area. Summer 2020 After several sponsors publicly voiced their opposition to the name Redskins, longtime owner Dan Snyder said in early July the organization would undergo a 'thorough review." Snyder had said multiple times since buying the team in 1999 that he had no intent of changing it. Cleveland hours later said it was considering going away from Indians, the baseball team's name since 1915. Manager Terry Francona said he was in favor of a change. On July 13, Snyder announced the Redskins moniker was being retired after 87 years, dating to the team's time in Boston. Later in the month, the organization unveiled plans to be known as the Washington Football Team for at least one season, and that name remained through 2021. MLB's Atlanta Braves and the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks doubled down on their names. The Braves wrote in a letter to season-ticket holders they will 'always be' known as that, while the Blackhawks said they would continue to use their name and logo because it honors Native American leader Black Hawk of Illinois' Sac & Fox Nation. The Braves said they were reviewing the use of the tomahawk chop and chant, a discussion they started with Native American leaders in 2019. The Blackhawks banned headdresses at home games. In August, the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs followed suit, prohibiting the use of Native American headdresses, face paint and clothing at their stadium. They faced increased scrutiny over the tomahawk chop and chant around winning their first Super Bowl title that February. December 2020 Cleveland owner Paul Dolan announced the team would no longer be called the Indians following the 2021 season. 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October 2021 The tomahawk chop was front and center as the Braves reached — and won — the World Series, with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred endorsing the fan behavior, citing the support of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, based in North Carolina about three hours from Atlanta. 'The Native American community in that region is wholly supportive of the Braves program, including the chop,' Manfred said. 'For me, that's kind of the end of the story. In that market, we're taking into account the Native American community.' February 2022 After a lengthy process, Washington rebranded as the Commanders. Snyder said the change pays 'homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation's capital.' 'As we kick off our 90th season, it is important for our organization and fans to pay tribute to our past traditions, history, legacy and the greats that came before us,' Snyder said. 'We continue to honor and represent the burgundy and gold while forging a pathway to a new era in Washington.' President Joe Biden welcomed the name change by posting a picture on Twitter of Commander, his recently acquired German shepherd puppy, in front of the White House. 'I suppose there's room for two Commanders in this town,' Biden wrote. Summer 2023 A group led by Josh Harris, which included Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, finalized the purchase of the Commanders from Snyder for a North American pro sports record $6.05 billion. Harris and co-owner Mitch Rales, who grew up in the area of the team, used the word Redskins at their introductory news conference, sparking renewed chatter about the subject. Before the season started, Harris said ownership would not be going back to the old name. Summer 2024 Sen. Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, threatened to block a congressional bill to transfer land to potentially be used for a new football stadium in Washington unless the Commanders and the NFL honored the former Indian head logo in some way. The original logo was designed by a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. After lobbying on Capitol Hill by Harris and Commissioner Roger Goodell, the bill passed in December at the eleventh hour, and Biden signed it into law in January. It gave control of the RFK Stadium site from the federal government to the District of Columbia, which agreed to a deal with the team in April to build there, pending city council approval. February 3, 2025 After Washington made the playoffs and went on an improbable run to the NFC championship game with Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels, Harris said at his season-ending news conference that the Commanders name was here to stay, quieting speculation about another rebrand. 'I think it's now being embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff, so, we're going with that,' Harris said. 'Now, in this building, the name Commanders means something. It's about players who love football, are great at football, hit hard, mentally tough, great teammates. It's really meaningful that that name is growing in meaning.' July 20, 2025 With the stadium deal not yet done, Trump threatened to block it if Washington did not go back to the name Redskins. Trump on his social media site posted: 'I won't make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington." Asked about ways Trump could block the construction of a stadium where the team played during its glory days until moving to Maryland, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser shifted the focus to hammering out a deal voted on by the council. 'What I'm concerned about is we haven't done our part, and so we need to complete our part so that the team can get to work, so that local businesses can get hired, so that we can start earning the tax revenue that will come when we deliver the Commanders stadium," Bowser said.
USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Isaiah Hartenstein calls Nuggets Round 2 series the Thunder's toughest playoff test
Despite cruising to a historic 68-14 regular-season record, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to truly roll up their sleeves and earn an NBA championship with a grueling playoff journey. While two of their four playoff series went the distance, only one left a lasting impression. Count Isaiah Hartenstein as another Thunder player who recalls their Round 2 series win over the Denver Nuggets as their toughest test. It went the distance as OKC blew out Denver in a decisive Game 7. The back-and-forth classic saw the eventual NBA champion fall behind twice in the series before getting the win. Hartenstein appeared on "Podcast P with Paul George" to talk about the Thunder's championship run. The 26-year-old played an important role as he was mostly a starter throughout the two months of high-intensity basketball. It was a group effort to limit Nikola Jokic that was mentally and physically taxing. All hands were on deck to limit him. Hartenstein had his turns against Jokic to match up size with size. Chet Holmgren did the same when the three-time MVP winner tried to bully his way to the basket. It resulted in some pretty ugly shooting performances from Denver's best player. Finally, Alex Caruso matched up against him despite the size disadvantage in a curveball move that helped the Thunder win Game 7. "I think the only series where we were kinda a little bit on the ropes was Denver. Just Jokic and the way they play. They've been there before," Hartenstein said. "That was the only series we were like, 'Even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance.' Every other series was like, 'If we do the right things, we're good.'" It shouldn't be a shocker to see the Thunder feel that way. It certainly felt like it at the time. Even though it was a Round 2 series, everybody thought the eventual NBA champion would come out of that series as the winner. Battling last year's ghosts, OKC showed why this season was different compared to last. The Thunder had to learn how to win close playoff battles. They did that against the Nuggets. It paid dividends a few weeks later when they went through a similar song and dance against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. This time, they were prepared for the moment and won the Larry O'Brien trophy because of it. "The Nuggets were the only series we were like, 'Even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance.''Isaiah Hartenstein shares why Jokic & the Nuggets were OKC's biggest threat during their Finals run.
