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Racism Strikes again… Hate Crimes




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Rapid City SD- Last week in a viral video that circulated communities in Rapid City, South Dakota, racism struck again. The incident occurred when a woman inside of Murphy’s Pub and Grill approached Chynna Lockett (Latina) and Sunny Red Bear (Oglala Lakota).

In a video posted on social media Lockett and Red Bear were there to dine in and were accosted by the woman. She called them racist names and in the video the she harassed Lockett and Red Bear. She can be heard saying “go back to your reservation”, “You all are nothing” and even telling the two women they are ugly.

Ironically, Sunny Red Bear is the Director of Racial Equity at NDN Collective and her job is to make sure Rapid City is racially equitable. The woman was quickly identified and brought to authorities. The business, Murphy’s Pub & Grill asked the woman to leave and has banned her from returning.

This was not the last of these kinds of racial incidents this past week in Rapid City. On Art Alley wall which is only a few blocks away from Murphy’s Pub and Grill, on the evening of February 1, 2021 in red lettering, someone wrote “Go back to your reservation”. A couple police officers and a Parks and Recreation worker reported to the incident immediately and cleaned up the Hate vandalism.

Around the same time on the border of the Pine Ridge Reservation, more racial and hate vandalism occurred. On the north western side of the Pine Ridge Reservation near the town of Wamblee, smeared across welcome signs are graphic phrases aimed at President Biden and swastika’s and “KKK” written across welcome to Pine Ridge Reservation signs and informational signs.

Kevin Killer, president of OST state, “As President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and former member of the South Dakota legislature, I and all members of the Oglala Lakota Nation, vehemently condemn the hate-filled vandalism to the signs located on South Dakota State Highway 73, just south of Kadoka at the borderline. These signs serve as our welcoming emblems to visitors and guests of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and depict the pride we have for our culture and traditions as a sovereign nation.”

He added, “Over the past 24-hours, the signs have been spray-painted with a derogatory term involving President Joseph Biden, the letters “KKK”, and a swastika painted over our tribal flag. The Oglala Lakota Nation would like those individuals responsible to be held accountable for their actions, and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As a sovereign nation within the boundaries of the State of South Dakota, the Oglala Sioux Tribe continues to extend a hand of friendship to those wanting to make a positive impact on this and future generations. We look forward to sharing our new signs welcoming visitors from around the world shortly.”

Oglala Sioux Tribal authorities are working on replacing the signs and identifying those that vandalized the property. Rapid City officials are also in the process of prosecuting individuals involved with hate crimes.

4 responses to “Racism Strikes again… Hate Crimes”

  1. Joey Yankton says:

    Download the news break app to hear all the racist comments about natives, I made comments about them also so I don’t know if that’s good or bad? I will not let them put down our people in such a way..

  2. Jenny says:

    Some people have small brains with a big mouth! Sounds like this female needs some “education on how to be nice to everyone.” Of course, only in a place like this would you hear comments like hers. It takes a few drinks to bring the stupidity out.

  3. Margaret E Choenchom says:

    It’s appropriate that she is arrested for a hate crime, and it’s very appropriate that she will not be welcomed in that restaurant again.
    If business everywhere boycotted known racists from doing business with them, that could become a very powerful tactic!

  4. Ida Fast Wolf says:

    I am more angered than surprised at the racism here in Rapid City, SD. I will also sadly predict that there will be a confrontation such along the likes as what happened at the Congress building. The majority of people in SD has the mindset of Trump and a governor who falls behind Trump. I will not stand down any more.

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