Pine Ridge, S.D. - For the third time in
three weeks, American Indians from the
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation marched to
the Nebraska border town of Whiteclay on
Saturday.
The crowd of about 125 people was much
smaller than the groups that marched on the
two previous Saturdays.
On June 26, more than 1,000 people
participated in an event that ended in looting
and arson at a Whiteclay grocery store. On
July 3, nine members of an estimated crowd
of 650 people were arrested for disobeying
a police order.
This time, the closest thing to a
confrontation was a few people who made
obscene gestures toward about 10 patrol
cars parked on the south side of the village.
"I hate you, I hate you," shouted Arlette
Loud Hawk as she shook her fist toward
the police cars. Later, holding her toddler
daughter on her hip, she explained her
strong feelings.
"We're unarmed, but we're fearless people
and we're here to make our message, to die
even," she said. "They have killed
thousands of Lakota, right here in this town,
with alcohol."
She said her father and brothers are
alcoholics who come to Whiteclay and
drink.
"I see a different future for my children,"
she said. "I'm a fearless mother."
March leaders posted "eviction notices" on
the doors of four businesses that sell
millions of dollars of beer to reservation
residents each year.
The notices ordered the stores to cease and
desist from the sale of alcohol. They
described the Oglala Sioux tribe as the
landlords and caretakers of Whiteclay and
said they were terminating the businesses'
leases because they hadn't made any lease
payments since the property was transferred
from the tribe in 1904.
After posting the signs, the marchers
immediately left the town and assembled at
"Camp Justice," two tepees set up near
where the bodies of two Oglala men were
found. The slayings touched off the series
of protests.
Some of the marchers stayed at the camp
for a potluck dinner, while others got in cars
to return to Pine Ridge.
Russell Means, an American Indian
Movement leader who lives in Porcupine,
S.D., and Tom Poor Bear, who is related to
the two slain men, said the marches would
continue every Saturday until liquor sales
end and the killings are solved.
Frank LaMere, a Winnebago Indian who
drove from eastern Nebraska to attend
Saturday's rally, said last week's show of
force by the Nebraska State Patrol only
strengthened the protesters' resolve.
"I don't believe there's room for
compromise," LaMere said in a rally before
the march, which began about noon
Saturday. "You don't compromise with
somebody who puts a sniper on the roof. It
will be a long time before we forget what
happened last week."
Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent Tom
Nesbitt confirmed that armed observers
were placed on the tops of buildings in
Whiteclay. He said, however, that he would
not describe them as snipers.
Nesbitt said about 35 troopers were
deployed Saturday. He said they probably
would remain overnight while protesters
camped at Camp Justice. He said he hoped
to return to normal deployment by next
weekend.