Cherokee Chief Demands Apology From GOP Sen. Scott Brown For Racist Tomahawk Chops and Indian Mocking by Staffers
Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) has issued an apology after being called out by principal chief of the Cherokee Nation for his staffer’s “downright racist” 
Indian chants at a campaign rally.
“The conduct of these individuals goes far beyond what is appropriate and proper in political discourse,” the chief, Bill John Baker, said in a statement. “The use of stereotypical ‘war whoop chants’ and ‘tomahawk chops’ are offensive and downright racist. It is those types of actions that perpetuate negative stereotypes and continue to minimize and degrade all native peoples.”
A video of the event released Tuesday shows members of Senator Brown’s staff and campaign supporters making tomahawk chops and chanting Indian war chants in a shout-out with supporters of Elizabeth Warren, his Democratic challenger, outside a bar. Mr. Brown was inside at the time.
After the event was over and the tape was made public, Senator Brown issued a statement disavowing the behavior of his staffers.
“Senator Brown has spoken to his entire staff – including the individuals involved in this unacceptable behavior – and issued them their one and only warning that this type of conduct will not be tolerated. As we enter the final stretch of this campaign, emotions are running high, and while Senator Brown can’t control everyone, he is encouraging both sides to act with respect. He regrets that members of his staff did not live up to the high standards that the people of Massachusetts expect and deserve.”
After apologizing, Senator Brown said that Warren also owes everyone an apology for claiming to be a “person of color.” Brown has claimed that Warren took advantage of the system by claiming Native American heritage. Warren says that her claim was based on family lore, but that none of her employers were ever aware of the claim.
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