American Indian Students Speak Up + More

University of North Dakota students protest offensive T-shirts

American Indian students at the University of North Dakota came together in mid-May to protest offensive T-shirts worn by their peers, according to the Native Sun News.

Students photographed themselves wearing T-shirts that depict an American Indian drinking from a beer bong with the words “Siouxper Drunk” emblazoned on the front. The “Fighting Sioux” logo was retired in 2012 due to impending NCAA sanctions over its controversial depiction of American Indian, according to ESPN. 

“The ‘drunken Indian’ caricature is one of the worst stereotypes about Native people that there is,” said Ruth Hopkins, a writer for LastRealIndians.com.

The protest was attended by more than 200 people, including UND Provost Tom DiLorenzo, Vice President for Student Affairs Lori Reesor and UND alum Chase Iron Eyes, founder of LastRealIndians.com. American Indian students requested the university officially denounce the now-retired Fighting Sioux logo, make racial sensitivity training mandatory for incoming students and ban the Fighting Sioux logo from all academic settings.

University representatives said the school is investigating the incident in order to identify the students involved and seek a resolution.

“This is not about putting blame on people,” Iron Eyes said. “We can’t do anything about what happened way back then. It is about what we can do. It is about making change now and creating relationships so we can create that change now.”

Read more at this Native Sun News story published at Indianz.com.

Chicago rallies behind Asian-American victim

Concerned citizens in Chicago gathered in support of an Asian-American woman who suffered physical and verbal abuse—including racial epithets and questions about her citizenship—at a protest on May 29, according to DNAinfo.com.

Those gathered in front of city hall asked that city and law enforcement leaders publicly denounce the incident between the woman, Jianching “Jessica” Klyzek, and a police officer. Chicago Police Superintendent Gerry McCarthy responded quickly and stripped law enforcement authority from the officer who struck Klyzek, saying the incident was "obviously behavior that we do not condone and we’re not going to tolerate in this department."

Prior to the protest, activist groups had posted pictures of Klyzek’s face around Chicago’s Chinatown to bring attention to abusive incidents in minority communities. National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Co-Chair Sarah Macaraeg attended the protest and said, "We're here because we should live in a city where no one is deemed disposable, where no violation of human rights is acceptable."

The incident was captured on a security camera during a raid at the Noble Square tanning salon in July 2013. Learn more at DNAinfo.com.

Five best anti-hate protest signs from Wilson High

Students, parents and alumni joined to counter-protest the Westboro Baptist Church, who came out to spread their hateful message at Woodrow Wilson High School’s Pride Day in Washington, D.C, according to the Washington City Paper.

Signs included “Grandparents for equality,” “gotta love love” and “Guys, you got it all wrong. I said I hate figs!”

Woodrow Wilson Principal Pete Cahall, who publicly came out at the event, was touched at his students’ proactive stand against hate:

"I've got goosebumps," he said. "It's really—it's really great to know I have this support."

Read more at the Washington City Paper.