Dear Pennington County State Attorney's Office,
We, the undersigned organizations and Tribes, write this letter to express our unified support and call to demand that the false and inflated charges against Nick Tilsen, Founder and CEO of NDN Collective, be dropped.
Nick is being systematically targeted as an Indigenous movement leader. Local prosecutors intentionally sought out the police officer named in this case and encouraged him to press charges.
This is a violation of constitutional and human rights. Nick is being targeted by the RCPD because he has unapologetically stood on his values and has called for accountability and justice for people harmed by police in Rapid City. This is a continuation of the American legacy of vilifying Indigenous people and the legal system targeting and over-criminalizing Indigenous movement leaders.
We aim to send a powerful message to the Pennington County State’s Attorney's Office. We remain in solidarity together to declare that racist systems and policies will not be tolerated. Our people deserve to see accountability, justice, and repair for the harms inflicted by the Rapid City Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
These are our demands:
1) Drop the charges against Nick Tilsen, Founder and CEO of NDN Collective.
2) Ensure all law enforcement officers who have violated video and audio policies are permanently and immediately terminated.
3) Launch a Federal investigation into the Rapid City Police Department for its racist policies and procedures.
This fight is bigger than just Nick Tilsen. It’s about protecting our people, our right to free speech, and to demand justice & accountability for those harmed, murdered, and incarcerated by RCPD. We remain committed to ending the legacy and ongoing violence of settler colonialism everywhere, for the liberation and healing of all Peoples and Mother Earth.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
The Signatories