Most Americans have heard of the Civil Rights Movement, and names like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are common knowledge. Not many Americans, though know about or have even heard of the American Indian Movement, in return leaders like Dennis Banks(Ojibwe) and Russell Means(Oglala Sioux) are virtually unknown. Many things will be discussed and alluded to in this paper, some of which I will attempt to explain; for an example at the time of AIM, “Traditionals” were full-blooded American Indians who keep the traditional way of life, while “Nontraditionals” were mostly of mixed race and have halfway assimilated to American culture; they were typically put in charge by the Government, because they fit the mold of white society better. A lot
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Eventually, they got enough signatures for that to be achieved. But, as always the American Government, being a brilliant example of an advocate for repressed people put Wilson in charge of his own impeachment. Obliviously, this upset a lot of people, so when lawful and professional actions did not work, the Traditionals asked AIM to “intercede”. AIM and the Tradtionals “picked the mass grave containing the remains of 350 Lakotas massacred by the U.S. Army at Wounded Knee in 1890 to expose the situation on Pine Ridge,”(American Indian Movement Siege of Wounded Knee). Wilson, rightfully so, got scared when he saw AIM rolling up on the scene. In response “Wilson's GOONs had set up roadblocks on every road by which the press could enter the settlement, simultaneously sealing the AIM people inside,”( American Indian Movement Siege of Wounded Knee). The Government knew that AIM meant business, so they sent over the FBI to attempt to hinder AIMS momentum, and to stop it before the media got hold of the story. Fire between the two sides were often exchanged, resulting in “two Native Americans [being] killed and a federal marshal permanently paralyzed by a bullet wound,”( AIM Takes Wounded Knee). AIM eventually yielded; AIM brought their case to court and “in a subsequent trial, the judge ordered their acquittal because of evidence that the FBI had manipulated key witnesses. AIM emerged victorious and succeeded in shining a national spotlight on the problems of modern Native Americans”(AIM Takes Wounded Knee). This battle for the Oglala Sioux was just as important as the victory of Little Big Horn was for their people and the Cheyenne ninety-seven years
Eventually, they got enough signatures for that to be achieved. But, as always the American Government, being a brilliant example of an advocate for repressed people put Wilson in charge of his own impeachment. Obliviously, this upset a lot of people, so when lawful and professional actions did not work, the Traditionals asked AIM to “intercede”. AIM and the Tradtionals “picked the mass grave containing the remains of 350 Lakotas massacred by the U.S. Army at Wounded Knee in 1890 to expose the situation on Pine Ridge,”(American Indian Movement Siege of Wounded Knee). Wilson, rightfully so, got scared when he saw AIM rolling up on the scene. In response “Wilson's GOONs had set up roadblocks on every road by which the press could enter the settlement, simultaneously sealing the AIM people inside,”( American Indian Movement Siege of Wounded Knee). The Government knew that AIM meant business, so they sent over the FBI to attempt to hinder AIMS momentum, and to stop it before the media got hold of the story. Fire between the two sides were often exchanged, resulting in “two Native Americans [being] killed and a federal marshal permanently paralyzed by a bullet wound,”( AIM Takes Wounded Knee). AIM eventually yielded; AIM brought their case to court and “in a subsequent trial, the judge ordered their acquittal because of evidence that the FBI had manipulated key witnesses. AIM emerged victorious and succeeded in shining a national spotlight on the problems of modern Native Americans”(AIM Takes Wounded Knee). This battle for the Oglala Sioux was just as important as the victory of Little Big Horn was for their people and the Cheyenne ninety-seven years