Strafverfahren gegen Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective

Wir haben die Petition gegen das Verfahren unterschrieben. Nach dem letzten Termin gilt es nun weiter abzuwarten (siehe Text 2). In dieser Zeit können aber immer noch Petitionen unterschrieben werden. Hier die Antwort an uns des NDN Collectives mit Links und Petitionstext. Wir unterstützen NDN Collective in dieser Auseinandersetzung.

aktuelles Update

Sa., 2. Aug. um 03:54

Dear Relatives, After three days of evidentiary hearings around a case involving NDN Collective founder and CEO Nick Tilsen – the judge has taken the case under advisement, requested “finding of fact” from each party, and is expected to make a final decision in the coming months. “Today’s packed courtroom illustrates both the support for and significance of Nick’s leadership in Rapid City and beyond,” said Gaby Strong, NDN Collective Vice-President. “No matter what obstacles are thrown at him, Nick continues to lead with courage and a steadfast commitment to justice.”  With 14,066 signatures on a petition to the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s office, it’s clear that supporters want the charges against Nick Tilsen to be dropped. If you haven’t already, please sign the petition below to demand that the charges against Nick Tilsen be dropped. Sign the Petition: Drop the Charges Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle, Director of Ȟesápa Initiatives at NDN Collective provides an update of today’s hearing. “You can recognize a true leader when they’re continuously attacked by those committed to upholding the status quo – which is exactly what’s happening to Nick,” said Norma Rendon, elder and community leader. “This case is bigger than Nick or any one person – it’s about protecting the right to free speech and freedom of movement for all people.”  The hearing made clear that the Rapid City Police Department violates its own camera and audio policies. Local prosecutors encouraged a former officer to press charges against Nick Tilsen, a year later, for the cop watch interaction. These charges were brought forth the same day that NDN Collective requested a permit for the March Towards Justice, a rally and march shedding light on the Police violence and murders of Indigenous Peoples’ in Rapid City. Learn more.  This is political repression, and we are hopeful the judge will come to this conclusion too.  “We are confident the judge will rule in Nick’s favor after having time to review the evidence and testimonies presented today,” said Wizipan Little Elk Garriott, NDN Collective President. “In the meantime, NDN Collective’s work to build power for Indigenous people continues.” We are not afraid to speak truth to power; too much is at stake. In South Dakota, Native Americans make up 9% of the state population, but 41% of people in jail and 33% of people in prison (Vera Institute, 2019). It’s time for the South Dakota State Attorney’s Office to hold RCPD accountable and stop targeting organizers who are shedding light on community safety concerns. Here are a few ways you can support Nick Tilsen and NDN Collective: Sign this Petition (& encourage others to sign) To learn more about the case or to donate visit the NDN Legal Fund website Call or email the Pennington County States Attorney’s office asking them to drop the charges: Phone: (605) 394-2191 OR send an email using this link: https://ndnco.cc/pcsa Share this information with a friend or on social media to bring attention to the injustices happening in South Dakota and across the nation. Drop the Charges Related Articles: Press Release: Nick Tilsen’s Evidentiary Hearing Concludes, Case Taken Under Advisement Blog: Resistance in a time of Repression: An Up-Close-and-Personal Q&A with Nick Tilsen Press Release: Nick Tilsen’s Evidentiary Hearing Continued for Aug 1 Press Release: Community Responds to Day 1, Evidentiary Hearing for Nick Tilsen Thank you for your support, prayers, and continued solidarity. Stay tuned, more to come!  Philámayaye (thank you in Lakota),  NDN Collective   The NDN Legal Fund was created as a resource to support and protect our people through both offensive and defensive legal representation in the courts. Learn more about our Legal Fund or contribute today by visiting our website.

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TEXT 2

Dr. Michael,

Thanks for signing the petition. Now, can you spread the word to keep up our momentum?

Click here to share this petition on Facebook.

Click here to share this petition on Twitter.

Or you can send your friends this link: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/drop-the-charges-against-nick-tilsen?source=direct_link&

Or copy and paste the email below.

Thanks!

NDN

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Copy and paste this email to friends to spread the word:

Subject: Sign the petition! Pennington County State’s Attorney: Drop the Charges Against Nick Tilsen

Body:

Friend,

I signed a petition on Action Network telling Pennington County State’s Attorney to Drop the Charges Against Nick Tilsen.

In 2023, Nick Tilsen pulled over to conduct a routine cop watch where a Native unhoused relative was being stopped by Rapid City Police (RCPD) in Rapid City, South Dakota. A year later from that cop watch, Nick received notice that he was being charged with aggravated assault and obstruction of a police officer from the incident. The officer wasn’t touched at all, no physical harm caused to any officer in this incident, and there is video evidence that proves Nick is innocent. 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. The charges brought against Nick are false and inflated to criminalize, silence, and ultimately isolate him from his community through imprisonment. Nick is being targeted by 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. NDN Collective has been pushing for a federal investigation into the Rapid City Police Department for over 3 years for this exact issue.

This fight is bigger than just Nick Tilsen. It’s about protecting movement leaders, movement organizations, our right to free speech, and to demand justice for those harmed by colonized white supremacist systems and structures.   Nick is a devoted father, son, uncle, spiritual helper, mentor, and leader respected by his elders, the broader movement, and Indigenous Peoples’. This is his legacy – they won’t define or diminish it. This is a violation of constitutional and human rights. Nick has an evidentiary hearing on June 12 and 13, 2025 at the Pennington County Courthouse, where we aim to prove not only his innocence but the pattern of targeted attacks against Indigenous Peoples’ by the Rapid City Police Department (RCPD).

We need your help to ensure this hearing doesn’t go to trial and to secure Nick’s freedom! Here are a few ways you can support Nick Tilsen: 1. Sign this Petition (& encourage others to sign) 2. Donate to the NDN Legal Fund 3. Call or email the Pennington County States Attorney’s office asking them to drop the charges: Phone: (605) 394-2191 4. Share this information with a friend or on social media to bring attention to the injustices happening in South Dakota

Can you join me and take action? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/drop-the-charges-against-nick-tilsen?source=email&

Thanks!