Ward LeRoy Churchill (born October 2, 1947, in Urbana, Illinois) is an American activist, author, and former academic who served as a tenured professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado Boulder from 1990 until his dismissal in 2007. He is known for his provocative writings and political stances, particularly his controversial 2001 essay 'Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens,' which compared victims of the 9/11 attacks to 'little Eichmanns'—a reference to Nazi bureaucrat Adolf Eichmann—drawing widespread condemnation. His scholarly work centered on the historical mistreatment of political dissenters and Native Americans by the U.S. government, and he was actively involved with the American Indian Movement during the 1970s and 1980s, advocating for indigenous rights. Churchill has claimed Native American ancestry (identifying as part Cherokee and part Creek), but genealogical investigations have not substantiated these claims, and he is not enrolled in any federally recognized tribe, leading to significant controversy over his ethnic identity. His tenure was marked by investigations into allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, and research misconduct, resulting in his termination in 2007. He successfully sued the university for wrongful dismissal in 2010, winning a $1.3 million judgment before settling for reinstatement and back pay, which he later declined in favor of a monetary settlement. Beyond academia, Churchill has authored numerous books and articles on topics ranging from U.S. imperialism to environmental justice, contributed to documentary films as a producer, and is married to Natsu Taylor Saito, a law professor and fellow activist. His life has been scrutinized for inconsistencies in his personal biography, but he remains a figure in radical left-wing and indigenous rights discourse.