Activist says assault charge shows racism
By KERRI REMPP, Record staff writer Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A case pending before Dawes County District Court has garnered the attention of Native American activist Russell Means.
Means made an appearance at the arraignment of Dominique Ten Fingers, 22, on assault and disturbing the peace charges Monday afternoon, citing possible concerns of racism in the case.
“I know that racism and hatred exist in the periphery of the reservation and in the border towns,” Means said. “It’s unreasonable and unconscionable.”
Ten Fingers was charged with second degree assault and disturbing the peace after an incident in May in which she allegedly caused bodily injury to Shannon O’Connor with a wooden stick with nails in it. Ten Fingers respectfully answered “yes, sir” to all of the questions put forth by Judge Randall Lippstreau in the arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. She will appear in court again Aug. 12 for a pre-trial conference and a trial has tentatively been scheduled for Sept. 2.
Means sat quietly in the courtroom but told Ten Fingers as she was escorted out, “You have a support team behind you. We’ll get you out.”
Ten Fingers hit the back of a wooden chair near the courtroom door on the way out, causing it to rock back on two legs. Vernon Moves Camp, the director of the Ogallala Sioux Tribe Commission on Civil Rights, attempted to enter a statement on Ten Fingers behalf at the end of the proceedings, but Judge Lippstreau requested he present his thoughts in writing.
In the hall outside court, Ten Fingers mother, Germaine Moves Camp, and Means assured Ten Fingers they were raising bond money. Her bond was set at 10 percent of $10,000 in county court, and Judge Lippstreau continued that bond, remanding her to the custody of the Dawes County Sheriff.
Pointing at the county’s public defender, Paul Wess, who has been appointed to represent Ten Fingers, Means told her, “Don’t let him make you believe you’re anything but not guilty.”
The charges against Ten Fingers stem from an incident that occurred May 15-16. The Chadron Police Department received a call to 1010 Maple Street at 11:16 p.m. May 15. Listed as an assault n second degree, the call log reflects that “someone had just thrown something thru her front window and broke it.” The log indicates the call was cleared at 1:14 a.m. May 16.
County attorney Vance Haug insists race played no role in the charges.
“The charges are not racially motivated. However, I cannot go into the facts of the case at this time, as it would be inappropriate to comment prior to trial, and I want to avoid biasing potential jurors.”
Discussing the facts of the case and possibly tainting the jury pool would not be fair to Ten Fingers, Haug said.
Affidavits from Sharon Iron Horse, Lana Grass and Lakisha Garrett prepared by Moves Camp, claim O’Connor and Kelly Broberg initiated the fight and that any injury caused by Ten Fingers was in self-defense. Moves Camp and other supporters of Ten Fingers want the charges dismissed. They are also calling for criminal complaints against O’Connor, Broberg, Officers Fuchser and Bauer, the Dawes County Sheriff and the State of Nebraska. Documents presented to the Chadron Record by Moves Camp allege illegal entry, willful damage, illegal arrest and incarceration, misuse of office for personal gain, violation of oath of office, defamation and slander.
“We’re going to use Dominique’s case as a springboard for a Red Ribbon Grand Jury,” Means said.
The “grand jury” investigation will take place June 24 at the Chadron Native American Center beginning at 10 a.m. and is sponsored by the Republic of Lakota. The process will compare the disparity of arrests between Native Americans and non-Natives, the severity of charges for the two groups and sentences. The proceedings will be open to the public, Means said, and anyone is welcome to testify.
National news media have been alerted, he added, and the plan is to investigate injustices throughout the state.
“Chadron’s going to be the first,” Means said, adding that the government bodies of the U.S. need to recognize treaties made with the American Indians and ensure fair treatment for the landlords of this country.
“We own this country. We own your land,” Means said emphatically.
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