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LOCAL Announcement :: Civil & Human Rights : Miscellaneous

Upcoming Vote to Retire U of I Racist Mascot, Chief Illiniwek - June 17 at UIC!

Dear Opponents of Racism and Injustice,
On Thursday, June 17th, 2004 the University of Illinois' Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on the issue of the racist mascot "Chief Illiniwek". As a result of April's sit-in on the UIUC campus protesting the "Chief", Trustee Frances Carroll promised to re-submit her resolution calling for the elimination of the "Chief" for a vote. The U of I Board is the only body with the power to remove "Chief Illiniwek" from the UIUC campus. Momentum and support are building for this monumental and historic event in the anti-"Chief" movement!

We call on all anti-"Chief" supporters to help ensure that this resolution is passed on June 17th! First, you can contact the U of I Board and tell them they must eliminate the "Chief." Second, you can attend one or both of the protests occurring in Chicago the day before and the day of the U of I Board meeting. See below for more information on contacting the Board of Trustees and for the location and time of both protests.

Students, faculty, and staff from UIUC will be caravanning to Chicago along with their supporters in the Native American community so let's give them a warm Chicago welcome and show our support for their longstanding and historic struggle for justice.
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Contact Information for the Board of Trustees:

Board of Trustees Office
352 Henry Administration Building
506 South Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Email: UIBOT (at) uillinois.edu
Telephone: 217-333-1920
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Protest on June 16th, 2004:

The Native American Educational Services (NAES) College is organizing a protest against the U of I Board of Trustees and the racist mascot "Chief Illiniwek" as the Board will be having dinner at the American Indian Center of Chicago that evening. The event will begin at Truman College (SW corner of Wilson and Broadway in Uptown Chicago). There will be a press conference from 2-3pm, followed directly by the protest. Speakers will include Vernon Bellecourt (Native American Activist), Frank Sage (struggling against the racist mascot of the University of North Dakota), Siobhan Beaver (president of Red Roots native student organization at U of I), Karen Bond (member of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and the Media), and more.

The protest will continue at Truman College until 6:30pm, at which time there will be a march to the American Indian Center (1630 W. Wilson Ave. in Chicago) and protest the U of I Board and "Chief Illiniwek" while they are at dinner inside the American Indian Center. We want to arrive at the AIC around 7:15pm after the BOT have gone in. **Although this stage of the protest will be at the American Indian Center, the intent of this even is to target the U of I Board and the presence of the racist "Chief Illiniwek" at U of I, NOT the American Indian Center itself or the Chicago American Indian Community.**

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Protest on June 17th, 2004:

The U of I Board of Trustees will be meeting on Thursday, June 17th, 2004 on the U of I-Chicago campus. They are currently scheduled to vote on a resolution presented by Trustee Frances Carroll calling for the elimination of the dance and logo of U of I's mascot "Chief Illiniwek."

Anti-"Chief" Supporters will be present at the meeting to protest the racist mascot and show the U of I Board that "Chief Illiniwek" must go NOW! There will be a rally outside the meeting premises before it begins and will continue as some protestors move inside to the meeting room once the meeting is called to session. Meeting location and time follow.

THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2004
CHICAGO CAMPUS, CHICAGO ILLINI UNION, CHICAGO ROOMS B&C
828 SOUTH WOLCOTT AVENUE, CHICAGO, Illinois
Meeting begins at 8:30am SHARP and the resolution concerning Chief Illiniwek is the 2nd item on the agenda. Our opposition is likely to be strong so we ask that people show up at 8am and demonstrate as board members and others enter the premises.
 
 

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