A statue in front of Union Center was vandalized.
A statue in front of Union Center was vandalized.
A statue of a Native American chief in front of the United Center was recently defaced in a move aimed at restoring land on Chicago’s South Side to indigenous people.
The statue depicting Black Hawk, a Souk Native American chief from which the National Hockey League’s Blackhawks derive their name, was covered in red paint and littered with graffiti.
Images from the scene and a tweet from those apparently responsible for the damage included the term “Zhigaagoong,” the name of a movement aimed at decolonizing part of Chicago in order to return it to Native Americans.
Damage from the July riots in Arrigo Park.
Graffiti marking the statue reads “land back,” "defund CPD” and “get Wirtz off board.” Rocky Wirtz, chairman for the Blackhawks, is a member of the board of trustees for the Field Museum.
While the exact parameters of Zhigaagoong’s location or which exact tribe previously living in the area would inherit the land if successfully decolonized are not known, one thing is certain — a statue of Christopher Columbus marks the center of the disputed territory.
Rioters were unsuccessful in toppling that statue located in Arrigo Park in a Zhigaagoong protest earlier this year. The event brought out an estimated crowd of 1,000, which was dispersed by police officers as efforts to take down the statue and rioting started to break out.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appeared to endorse the actions of protestors despite damage to the statue and reports of injuries to a dozen police officers.
The Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter Chicago is also advocating for Zhigaagoong.
“All land East of Michigan Avenue is unceded Niswi-mishkodewinan territory,” BLM Chicago tweeted. “It is occupied only by white supremacist entitlement and a collective delusion of ownership.”
BLM Chicago has also notably defended outright looting and vandalism across the city as a “form of reparations.”
Phrasing used in support of the land is apparently gaining in popularity. A recent art installation at Chuquimarca co-opted the movement’s phrasing and echoed the slogans in support of Zhigaagoong. Others have opted to cash in on the movement by selling apparel.
See damage to the statue as depicted in the photos below.
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