Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

MINNESOTA - Intimidated by the prospect of a mass political trial for the 25 people accused of defending Minnehaha Park and sacred sites in the path of the proposed reroute of Highway 55, city prosecutor Steve Heng offered the defendants an exceptional plea bargain on Monday, December 6th, 1999. By the early afternoon of the first day of trial, Heng offered all the accused a $50.00 fine for the plea of guilty to a noncriminal petty misdemeanor. Protestors accepted this deal while dictating the following restrictions:

-all charges would be dropped against two defendants

-as Alfred plea ( no contest ) could be entered rather than guilty.

-each defendant would have the opportunity to enter a statement into the record explaining her/his actions.

-each defendant would reserve her/his right to pursue civil charges against the State for discriminatory arrests and police brutality.

The defendants expressed that it is their priority to actively defend the sacred land and waters in the path of the proposed reroute rather than participate in the inefficient bureaucracies of the court. They condemned the physical violence used by law enforcement officers against nonviolent protestors and bystanders. The defendants cited federal laws and treaty rights which the MnDoT reroute violates.

They clearly demonstrated that the true criminals in the project to reroute Highway 55 are those who have put out the orders to mow down the trees in Minnehaha Park, to de-water MInnehaha Creek and to dig up the graves of ancestors and destroy sacred sites.