Oliver Semans: Border towns even more dangerous for Indians

The George Zimmerman case is not just about stand your ground, or self-defense; it’s about the prejudice that exists to this day, it’s about a prejudicial justice system that makes the color of the victim’s skin predetermine the verdict of not guilty, with the message sent out to individuals like Zimmerman that you can get away with such a horrific act. Thanks to him, a child is dead. Here in Indian country, we understand that all too well.

After the not-guilty verdict was announced in the Zimmerman case, I believe most Indians felt the pain and sorrow Trayvon Martin’s family was going through. The verdict brought back memories of the tragic and in most cases unsolved deaths of Indians in border towns throughout Indian country. In my case, it was my uncle who was found dead on Main Street in Winner, South Dakota; no charges were ever filed. The families of the dozens of people whose deaths are unsolved, even uninvestigated, in Pine Ridge also understand the pain.

In most cases, tribal members dread going to border towns because of the well-known, well-documented prejudice of the local townspeople; they want our money, but not our presence. Now with the precedent of the Zimmerman case, homegrown vigilantes can think they can justifiably confront a tribal member for any reason and then STAND THEIR GROUND and call it self-defense. The end result? One fewer Indian.