Hundreds march in support of blind Cheyenne River Sioux man

Tuesday, May 22, 2012  

Hundreds of people marched in support of Vern Traversie, a blind member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe who may have been the victim of a hate crime at a Rapid City, South Dakota hospital.

Traversie, 69, underwent emergency surgery at the Rapid City Regional Hospital last August. When he was released, he had incisions and marks on his body that appear to look like the letters "KKK."

“Rapid City ... we understand you have been carving up our people. This is going to end today,” American Indian Movement founder Dennis Banks told the crowd, the Associated Press reported.

Rapid City police say their investigation failed to turn up evidence of a crime, the AP reported.

Get the Story:
Native Americans rally over surgical scars that some say show letters KKK; others have doubts (AP 5/21)
AIM Rallies In Rapid City (KELO-TV 5/21)

Evelyn Red Lodge: Lakota man accuses hospital of mutilation (4/26)