Rich Winter: A few too many bad apples in 'racist' South Dakota

Monday, February 23, 2015  

The American Horse School is raising money with this anti-racism t-shirt. Photo from AHS

Rich Winter, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and a contributor to NDNSPORTS, discusses the racial attack on 57 Indian children at a hockey game in Rapid City, South Dakota:

Since I've been back, a lot of folks are talking about the 'Beer Dumping, verbal racial slurs' incident that occurred at a Rapid City Rush hockey game at the Civic Center.

The news rocked the Native American communities when it happened, and people across the state were utterly outraged at how something like this could happen.

And then the news comes down mid-week that the man who had been accused of such crimes was going to be charged with Disorderly Conduct, a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

As the news was unveiled, I think I heard a collective gasp from every member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and every other member of any of the MANY tribes we have here in South Dakota.

Are you kidding me?

I think so many people were expecting more. The incident seemed like a clear and definable moment, where the state of South Dakota had a real opportunity to send a clear message that racism is not ok and those perpetrating that kind of behavior, will be prosecuted to the fullest intent of the law.

Get the Story:
Rich Winter: Little White Lies - South Dakota, great faces, pretty racist (Panic Button 2/21)

Delphine Red Shirt: Culture of fear impacts our Indian children (2/20)
Oglala Sioux Tribe seeks federal probe into attack on children (2/20)
Authorities file just one charge for racial attack on Indian kids (2/19)
Native Sun News: DOJ official visits Rapid City after racial flap (2/19)
Chase Iron Eyes: Man assaults our kids and gets away with it (2/19)
Bob Lone Elk: Still waiting on justice for racism in South Dakota (2/19)
Native Sun News: Rapid City paper admits error with headline (2/17)
Tim Giago: Racism continues to be tolerated in South Dakota (2/16)
Native Sun News: Rapid City reaches out to Pine Ridge youth (2/16)
Native Sun News: Second beer splashing incident investigated (2/12)
Robert Flying Hawk: Hate and racism too common in Rapid City (2/12)
Lakota Nation Invitational debates location after racial incident (2/11)
David Rooks: No consequences for pouring beer on Indian youth (2/9)
Delphine Red Shirt: Lakota children are called little sacred ones (2/6)
Jon Edwards: Racist attitudes in Rapid City are not imaginary (2/6)
Gyasi Ross: Interview with parent at hockey game in Rapid City (2/4)
Albert Bender: Indian children victimized by hockey game fans (2/4)
Investigation into mistreatment of Indian students drags out (2/3)
Tim Giago: Incident shows racism is alive and well in Rapid City (2/2)
Danielle Miller: Media lauds violence against our Indian children (2/2)
NAJA: Paper owes apology for flawed story about Indian children (2/2)
Opinion: File charges for hateful assault against Indian children (2/2)
Company claims harassment after racial incident at hockey game (1/30)
Criminal charges possible over mistreatment of Indian students (1/29)
Megan Red Shirt-Shaw: Our kids should be able to go anywhere (1/28)
Police probe racist treatment of Oglala youth at hockey game (1/28)