Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

POLICE RAID: SPIRITUAL ENCAMPMENT TO STOP THE HWY. 55 REROUTE

ATTEMPT TO REMOVE NATIVE AMERICANS, NON-VIOLENT ACTIVISTS AND SUPPORTERS, WORKING TO SAVE MINNEHAHA PARK AND SACRED SITES TO THE DAKOTA PEOPLE

WHERE: SPIRITUAL ENCAMPMENT: FOUR SACRED TREES, SOUTH OF 54TH STREET, EAST OF VA HOSPITAL HOMES, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

"Our people have always been the stewards of this land. The spirits of our Grandfathers are here," said Jim Anderson, Historian of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community. "These sites that are sacred to our people will be destroyed if this road goes through. If we let them take these sacred trees, they will come for the water, our sacred Coldwater spring, next. We will not allow this to happen. We have placed sacred items such as a sweat lodge, eagle feathers, sacred pipes and prayer ties in the path of destruction. It is a violation of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 for the police to handle or remove these items. They have asked for our assistance in removing these items, and we have refused."

Police and workers crews are destroying our cultural heritage, our church, and the natural environment upon which we all depend for clean water, clean air, and safe food in order to cut three minutes off the drive time between the Mall of America in suburban Bloomington, MN, and downtown Minneapolis. They claim they must reroute the road to accommodate the Light Rail Transit system that they want to put in, even though federal funding has not been secured. In all events to date the protesters have remained non-violent while enduring violence perpetrated by the state of Minnesota. Witness the lengths that the criminal state will go to protect the interests of the rich and powerful at the expense of minorities, the poor, and the earth.

On August 10th, 1998, the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community, Earth First!, and other activists began an occupation of property that MnDOT had slated for destruction to reroute Highway 55. On December 20th, 1998, MnDOT, showing blatant disregard for Human, Civil, and property rights, and the wishes of the public, raided the non-violent encampment with 802 state, county and city police officers in riot gear. They tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed, and brutalized 37 people, and then bulldozed the homes and burned personal and sacred items. Protesters returned to the trees to defend them 3 days later to prevent them from being cut. We are still there, and now that every traditional "legal" avenue is closed to us, we are back to direct action to defend the land and water. This is the longest running urban occupation in U.S. history.

The presence of the media and legal observers is requested to ensure the safety of these activists trained in non-violent civil disobedience. The police will try to restrict your access. Challenge them and assert your rights, please. Our safety and the freedom of the press are relying on your persistence.