July 27, 1999
Arriving to find yesterday's protest site barricaded, hundreds of supporters rally on the east side of Hiawatha Avenue. About twenty protesters lock arms and cross the street. They are removed with pepper spray and pain compliance. A smaller group later blocks traffic and is arrested as well. After the arrests, police wade into the crowd of protesters and apprehend more protesters without provocation, seemingly at random, although the majority of these arrests are of Native Americans.
Part of a media release that went out the next morning read as follows: JIM ANDERSON, CULTURAL CHAIRMAN OF THE MENDOTA MDEWAKANTON DAKOTA
COMMUNITY, WAS MACED AND DRAGGED AWAY, AND HIS NEPHEW, JESSE HOP, A
THIRTEEN YEAR OLD BOY SCOUT AND TRADITIONAL DANCER WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE
BY A MINNESOTA STATE TROOPER, DRAWING BLOOD. LEO ROENNING, VICE CHAIRMAN
OF THE MENDOTA MDEWAKANT0N DAKOTA COMMUNITY, WAS DRAGGED TO THE GROUND BY
FIVE STATE TROOPRS WHEN HE TRIED TO STOP THEM FROM BRUTALIZING JESSE.
ANNISHINABE ELDER, DARLENE JACKSON, WAS ATTESTED AND DRAGGED TO A SHERRIF'S
WAGON. MANY OTHER YOUTH AND OTHER ACTIVISTS WERE AGGRESSIVELY ARRESTED, AS
WELL AS COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO WERE SIMPLY STANDING ON THE SIDEWALK IN
SUPPORT. THIS WAS COVERED IN USA TODAY AND PAPERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
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