South Dakota: 3rd day of Indian suit
In the third day of a voting-rights trial on Wednesday, five American Indians told a federal judge that they have experienced racism in South Dakota.
The testimony is designed to establish a history of racial discrimination as the American Civil Liberties Union seeks a court decision to carve out a new state legislative district favorable to American Indians in the south-central part of the state. ...
As a grown woman, Black Lance said she still fears leaving the reservation because she believes law enforcement officers will stop her.
"I'm afraid when I leave the reservation. It seems like we left a safe area and go to an area where it's prejudiced," she said.
Black Lance said she has been stopped "just about every time I left the reservation."
The traffic stops ended when she bought a car that did not bear a license plate number from a reservation county, she said. ...
On cross-examination by state lawyers, the witnesses said they had not had trouble registering to vote or voting. Drapeaux said she is a leader in her community, and a copy of a newspaper advertisement in which the Rural Electric Association recognizes her as such was entered into evidence.
When asked if she believed white people in Martin accepted her, Drapeaux replied, "I'd say so." -- Witnesses testify on racism at ACLU trial (Rapid City Journal)