Brave Bird at Wounded Knee: A Story of Protest...

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee: A Story of Protest... — page 9
Patsy giggled until Miss Ashman clapped her hands to start class Franklin you're up Miss Ashman said nodding to Frank She never used nicknames Laura turned so Patsy could see her roll her eyes Frank stood at the front of the class to read the newspaper clipping THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGISTER February 28 1973 INDIAN PROTESTERS TAKE OVER SOUTH DAKOTA DISTRICT On February 27 hundreds of members of the Oglala Lakota Tribe met with leaders of the American Indian Movement AIM After the meet ing about 200 people caravanned to Wounded Knee the site of an 1890 massacre Some members of the group held a memorial service at the grave site of the victims of the massacre Meanwhile armed militants in the group quickly took control of the small district By evening police and FBI agents had surrounded the area Protesters and police have ex changed gunfire The government is calling the protesters insurgents and insisting they leave the district The protesters are demanding the land promised in an 1868 treaty They are also accusing the government of violating their civil rights The district of Wounded Knee is located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation It is home to a couple dozen homes three churches and a trading post The trading post which is owned by a white man sells snacks and souvenirs to tourists visiting the site of the massacre Some witnesses say protesters looted the trading post 12