South Dakota pipeline protest law worries Native American activists as ACLU files suit- Yesenia Ramirez Monroy
Recently in South Dakota lawmakers introduced the “Pipeline Package” in March.Nick Tilsen who is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, worried that it would affect his constitutional right to freedom of assembly.This recent bill called SB 189, also known as the “Riot Boosting Act”was signed into law on Wednesday by Republican Government Kristi Noem. This has kept many indigenous, environmental, and First Amendment advocates worried that their rights would get violated by the authorities. This led to people in the community to get informed about the bill since it was violating their 1st and 14th amendment. For example,Tilsen who's from Pine Ridge Reservation, reached out to a local lawyer and informed him of the situation that was going on and contacted ACLU as well. This then later on led to the ACLU to challenge the SB 189 saying the laws violate the citizens 1st and 14th Amendment rights of free speech and due process under the law.
This articles was written by Ben Kesslen on March the 31,2019 with the purpose of informing the citizens of south Dakota of the political and social conflicts. This new bill has kept many people worried and angrified that the government has not taken any action or consideration that their natural rights are being violated.This article relates to U.S. History because in 1964 their was the Civil Rights act which combated racial discrimination and jim crow laws. There was also the Voting rights act of 1965 because many citizens were not able to participate in politics due to people interfering or neglecting them their rights. This act also bans poll taxes, literacy test and other. The way this relates to this article is that back in the days people fought for justice that the authorities acknowledge it and passed acts and know days they are taking those rights away from us.
I can't believe that after centuries, we are still making life difficult for Native Americans. You'd think that they would obviously have more rights, considering that they were the first ones here, but that's not the case. Again and again, we keep trying to control the lives of Native Americans, and there needs to be an end to that. -Miranda Farrar
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