Regional News
100 protestors take part in Whiteclay march
Published Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 07:55 PM
The March For Justice is intended to keep alive the memory of Wilson "Wally" Black Elk Jr. and Ron Hard Heart...found beaten to death 10 years ago this month just north of Whiteclay and across the border on the Pine Ridge Rervation.
March leader Tom Poor Bear...the brother and cousin of Black Elk and Hard Heart...was pleased with the event, one of the largest in recent years.
About 20 officers...most from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, but also members of the Sheridan County Sheriff's Department and the Nebraska State Patrol...were on hand for this year's march.
State Patrol Lt Mike Gaudreault (GOOD-roe) said the officers were primarily on hand to help divert traffic on the highway that is the main street in Whiteclay around the rally.
The FBI has continued to investigate the deaths of Black Bear and Hard Heart, but has never identified any suspects...much less made an arrest. Poor Bear remains convinced the murders occurred in Nebraska, and says the March For Justice will continue until the killers are found.
FBI supervisory special agent Bob Perry says the case has not been forgotten, but as more time passes, the tougher it gets to develop new leads.
Perry says the deaths did help lead to a greater focus by the FBI on violent crime in "Indian Country" in South Dakota, with 5 victim specialists in the state. Poor Bear says it's not enough, and he'd like to see a special team of investigators named...including some from Nebraska.
© 2008 The Nebraska Rural Radio Association. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- © 2008 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.