Protesters march against police

JULY 13, 2000

The Argus Leader updated their originally posted story "Lake Andes protesters: Fire officer," to state that the officer was indeed charged with simple assault for the incicent on the young boy. An earlier posting to the web site did not include this fact.

Protesters on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota marched against racism and police brutality and called for the firing of a city of Lake Andes police officer who allegedly choked a 12-year old Indian boy.

Investigations into the incident are being conducted by city police, the tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

Lake Andes is in Charles Mix County. Ever since a Supreme Court decision gave jurisdiction back to local law enforcement, many Indian residents have complained of racial targeting, profiling, and bias, charges police and state Governor Bill Janklow deny.

Another incident involving an African-American man married to a Yankton Sioux woman is also being investigated. He says a police officer made racial comments to him and have ignored his complaints.

Get the Story: Lake Andes protesters: Fire officer (7/13)
Officer charged in Lake Andes (The Argus Leader 7/13)