Posted on 03/15/2005 6:33:56 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
The long-running dispute over the University of Illinois' Chief Illiniwek as a symbol will move into a courtroom. Chief Illiniwek has long been a target of Native American groups who say he is demeaning to them.
But the mascot still performs at U of I sporting events.
At a news conference Tuesday, the Illinois Native American Bar Association announced it filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court.
The group says continued use of Illiniwek is racial discrimination and violates civil rights laws.
"The University of Illinois ought to be teaching respect for other ethnic minorities, not exploiting them. Continuation of these stereotypes reinforces misunderstanding of our histories, cultures and beliefs," said Kim Edward Cook, Illinois Native American Bar Association.
The University of Illinois has not commented yet about the lawsuit.
Ping
Ping
These guys are coaxing the federal courts into commiting cultural genocide against American Indians.
Have you noticed that no one ever says anything about an ethinic mascot until that team starts to win?
How many people talk about the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves anymore??
Proud to say I'm an Illini and a Tom DeLay supporter and happy to offend the PC crowd as much as possible.
Don't know about the Cleveland Native Americans (Ugh!).
But the Braves won their 13th straight division championship last season, so they're not Johnny Come Latelys to the winners circle.
There was something of a furor not too many years ago about the "Tomahawk Chop". Nothing came of it.
That's because Ultra Lib Jane Fonda was participating in "the chop." She was called on it, said she wouldn't do it again, but did it anyway. Then she split with fellow lib Ted Turner.
As we all know, when liberals participate in these things, it's either okay, or just an innocent mistake. Imagine if Mel Gibson did the "Tomahawk Chop!!!"
Every chance I get.
Here lately, I find myself searching for the chance.....
LVM
They want to rename the state too, right? LOL
Why is it that steel workers NEVER find being the Pittsburg mascot demeaning?????
And Chicago. Peoria. Kankakee. Waukegan. The Illinois River. The Mississippi River. Lots of suburban street names and subdivision. Lots of towns downstate. Algonquin Road. Sauk Trail.
All Native American names or derivitives from Indian words.
Ditto. Count me in. Chieeeeeeeeeeeeeef!!
To have Idians and their squaws claim to be "Americans" is offensive, extremely offensive to us unhyphenated Americans!
I would think being a lawyer is much more demeaning than any old mascot.
Just blows my mind, a naming a mascot after something is a sign of RESPECT, not ridicule.
It blows my mind that somehow, somewhere, someone's "civil rights" are being violated by this guy.
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