Harmony for Parade Still Elusive : Tradition: The selection of an American Indian congressman to serve as second grand marshal fails to quell discord.

Though the Tournament of Roses Assn. hoped to mollify its critics this week when it appointed a second grand marshal for the Rose Parade to address the complaints of American Indians, the threats and harsh words grew even louder.

At a standing-room-only City Council meeting on Tuesday, Tournament of Roses President Robert L. Cheney demanded an apology for “despicable” acts by a city official, American Indian leaders vowed to carry out protests during the New Year’s Day parade, and several speakers said the racially divisive issue was “tearing us apart.”

In the midst of it all, a prominent American Indian leader told the council she was withdrawing her support for the grand marshal compromise, in which an American Indian congressman will join a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus at the head of the parade.

Vera Rocha, chief of the Gabrielino nation, said she had misunderstood the plan. “If a Native American rides alone, I’ll agree,” said Rocha, who had said she approved of the idea of two grand marshals when it was unveiled on Monday.

The tournament had originally selected Spanish aristocrat Cristobal Colon as grand marshal, representing the 103rd Rose Parade’s theme of “Voyages of Discovery” in the 500th anniversary year of Columbus’ arrival in the New World. But the choice set off a storm of criticism from American Indian groups and others, who charged that 1492 marked the beginnings of a “holocaust” against Indians.

On Monday, the tournament named Rep. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (D-Colo.), who is the only American Indian in Congress, to share the grand marshal honors with Colon.

Ultimately, the council voted 6 to 1, with Councilman Isaac Richard dissenting, to “applaud “ the compromise, saying that Campbell’s presence “will help us celebrate the greatness of our nation and the important heritage of Native Americans.”

The council resolution, which was drafted by Councilman William Thomson, a tournament member, went on to say: “We also support the Tournament of Roses Assn. for the good will and international acclaim it brings to Pasadena each New Year’s Day. The Rose Parade is very much the heart of Pasadena--without it, Pasadena would not be the community it is.”

Richard attacked the resolution for lauding the tournament, which he said had not sufficiently opened its ranks to minority group members.

“They could fit all their minority members into the trunk of one of their cars and still have room for the Republican elephant,” he said, to hoots from tournament members in the audience.

The issue came before the council because the city’s Human Relations Commission had recommended that the city withdraw any support for Colon as grand marshal, to the extent of having the mayor refuse to ride in the parade.

Hundreds of Tournament of Roses members, with name tags and rose pins on their lapels, jammed three-deep into the council chamber, and their critics spilled outside into the hallway.

Bare-chested Indian men with feathers in their hair said they had been insulted by the tournament, and they spoke of protests on New Year’s Day. “I dare you to honor this man,” said Nik Winterhawk, a Cree-Cheyenne, who walked onto the dais and stood behind a flinching Mayor Jess Hughston to address the council.

Tournament members responded defensively. “People are talking about stuff that happened 500 years ago,” said tournament member Bob Monk. “When is the healing going to begin?”

In his remarks, tournament President Cheney, who until now has been conciliatory about the choice of Colon, lambasted Human Relations Commission Chairman James Lomako and Vice Mayor Rick Cole, both outspoken critics of the selection.

Cheney charged that Lomako had tried Tuesday morning to persuade Campbell not to participate in the parade and that Cole had all along sought to undermine the compromise.

“I’m asking for an apology for the despicable actions of the chairman of the Human Relations Commission,” Cheney said, charging that Lomako had told Campbell that morning that the congressman was “undermining a united front in Pasadena, which is opposed to Cristobal Colon.”

The tournament president also criticized Cole, who last month blasted the tournament for being insensitive to minority groups, which now represent 53% of the city’s population.

“For the past five weeks, we’ve been working night and day to try to resolve the situation,” Cheney said. “The vice mayor has been working equally hard to make a solution impossible.”

Lomako acknowledged that he had talked to Campbell by phone, but he said he had just expressed personal opinions. “I got the papers this morning, and I said, ‘How could this guy do this?’ ” Lomako said, referring to Campbell.

“If I were a Jew I wouldn’t ride in the same car with Hitler’s grandson. . . . I thought: They’re getting this guy from Colorado to put on a war bonnet and turn the parade into a Wild West show.”

Cole said that he heartily approved of bringing Campbell into the parade. “When he (Campbell) called me and asked me whether I though he should participate, I said I felt strongly that he should,” Cole said.

Rocha, whose ancestors once populated the San Gabriel Valley, said it had been her understanding that Colon had decided not to participate in the parade and that Campbell would be the sole grand marshal.

With the compromise fully explained to her, she said, she withdrew her support.

“I wouldn’t sit 10 feet away from this man (Colon),” Rocha said. “This is opening wounds that we fought about 500 years ago.”