GRAND FORKS - In response to actions taken by the University of North Dakota's nickname committee Tuesday night, a group is planning a rally in protest.
The Sioux Were Silenced campaign in support of UND's former Fighting Sioux nickname said in an statement via Facebook message they are planning a protest the weekend of Aug. 22.
"We don't have a lot of details now, but we are confident that an event of this nature will garner large interest from the stakeholders of UND," said the message from the owners of the group's Facebook page.
The nickname committee at UND voted to move five names forward for a public vote, pending President Robert Kelley's approval, and eliminated the possibility of continuing to play simply as UND/North Dakota as the school has done since the Fighting Sioux name was retired.
Many on social media have expressed anger at the removal of UND/North Dakota and even though seven on the committee voted to remove it, four dissented.
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Since April, The Sioux were Silenced group has posted YouTube videos about the history of the Fighting Sioux name and its retirement in December 2012 after the NCAA threatened sanctions.
Eunice Davidson, who wrote the book "Aren't We Sioux Enough?" and her husband David are prominent figures in the campaign and have been very vocal about wanting to bring the old nickname back.
The group's Facebook page has about 9,100 likes. More information can be found at www.thesiouxweresilenced.com .
