By Andrew Minik; Campus Reform:
An “alternative event” hosted by the University of Illinois Student Government (ISG) culminated in protesters halting last weekend’s homecoming parade and apparently assaulting a police officer.
The ISG had voted to boycott the 2017 homecoming parade and host the “alternative event” as a protest against the inclusion of a former mascot that many consider offensive to Native Americans.
According to video of the incident obtained by Campus Reform, protesters led by ISG President Raneem Shamseldin obstruct the parade route and block the car of Chancellor Robert Jones, after which a protester shoves a UI Police Officer onto the hood of Jones’s vehicle before throwing punches (~0:30 – 0:40).
Removed as the official university symbol in 2007, Chief Illiniwek remains a controversial subject on the Urbana-Champaign campus, but a group called the Honor the Chief Society continues to march in the homecoming parade. In response to the ISG boycott, university spokesperson Robin Kaler explained that “Parade participation is open to entries from the entire community,” and that the university “cannot restrict participation based on the content or message of the entries without violating the rights of free speech.”
Harassment of pro-Chief Illiniwek sentiment began two days before the parade, when an alleged university employee disrupted a College Republicans event and vandalized property. The university has said that it is aware of the incident, but has not announced any disciplinary actions against Angela King.
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