Charlene Teters, Spokane Indian and founder of the anti-Chief Illiniwek movement, returned to the University to lead Friday's Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative (PRC) anti-Chief rally. More than 500 anti-Chief and pro-Chief supporters attended the rally.

"(Chief Illiniwek) is a symbol of a national problem," Teters said. "If you considered yourself anti-racists, then this is your issue, too."

Teters founded the anti-Chief Illiniwek movement in 1989. With Friday's rally falling before the Columbus Day holiday today, Teters complained about how Columbus is celebrated as a hero of American history even though his voyage to the New World started the chain of events that led to the decline of the American Indian civilization.

"In American history they start with 1492. If you look at America before 1492, this is Indian land," Teters said.

"We wanted to draw attention to the fact that Columbus is celebrated as a noble figure in history even though he was responsible for the first act of genocide and slavery of Native-American people," said Frank Stec, senior in communications and PRC member.

About 100 students also attended the rally to show their support for keeping the Chief.

"This rally is another example of the lack of education about the Chief," said Andrew Fitzgerald, sophomore in LAS and president of the pro-Chief slate of student government. "If they took the time to learn what the Chief is about and the process that we go through to actually portray these people, then they will not feel the way they do."

After the speech, almost 150 Chief protesters marched from the Quad to the Henry Administration Building. As the group marched they shouted, "We don't want your Chief no more. Racist mascots create hate."

Anti-Chief activists William Cook and Sherry Naanes arrived with their protest wagon filled with posters containing anti-Chief messages.

Marchers were allowed to enter the Henry Administration Building and enter the Board of Trustees office, but the board was not in the building, so the group left voice-mail phone messages.

Teters said the Chief creates a hostile environment for American-Indian students.

"The Chief has no clue how it feels to be Native," said Yolanda Davis, a Native-American student attending Parkland College. "We really need to get rid of Chief Illiniwek."

Teters said she was pleased with the big drawing for the rally.

"We will keep coming back until this thing is gone," Teters said. "When they refer to us as Chief, Brave, Redskin, we are being referred to as less than human."

Stec said the group was honored to have Teters as the keynote speaker for the rally.

"(Teters) will draw attention to this issue so it will end soon," Stec said.

But Chief supporters also showed their resolve on the issue.

Joe Deien, freshman in LAS, was part of a group of 10 Chief Illiniwek supporters who came to the rally together.

"There is no disrespect to Native Americans. Everything is done to respect their tradition," Deien said. "Everyone has the right to protest. But I don't support them. I think they are wrong."