Wed, 19 Apr 2000
Camp Justice not getting justice
6:03:21 PM
Mike Anderson

The U.S. Civil Rights Commission says racial mistrust is higher in
South Dakota, than any other state. But one member of the States Civil
Rights Advisory Commission believes their report doesn't do justice to
reservation border towns.

For ten months, Tom Poor Bear has made a field his home. Only yards
away, is where his brother and cousin were found dead nearly a year
ago. Their murders are still unsolved. But for a camp named "Justice",
Tom is disappointed with how little justice he's seen. For those in
Camp Justice, the border between South Dakota and Nebraska not only
represents a divide between two states, but between two peoples.

They say racial mistrust, and mistreatment is still very high in
Sheridan County. Despite the presence of Camp Justice, alcohol sales
in Whiteclay continue. Nebraska governor Mike Johanns says a task
force will handle that problem, but those on the Reservation have very
little faith in that promise. But Tom Poor Bear and the six others at
Camp Justice, say they won't leave until the two murders are solved,
and the pain their people suffer, is recognized.

Tom Poor Bear says he thinks the Civil Rights report released last
month is accurate, but doesn't believe local government will follow
through with recommendations.


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