All-American Occupation Movements

They say, "It turns out we've been making history like this for a long time." That is in regard to occupations and sit-ins that date back to 1875 with the Sioux Indian occupation at White River. That was the country's first tarp-city protest that originated with a broken treaty. It was in 1868 that the US government considered the Black Hills of the Dakota region worthless and deeded the land in perpetuity to the Sioux. When gold was found, the government sent Gen. Custer to investigate. Shortly after Gen. Custer's report findings, the government reconsidered its arrangement with the Sioux.

The web article reports, "In September 1875, President Grant sent a delegation to the banks of the White River to meet with Sioux chiefs and negotiate a price for the land. But the Sioux, under the influence of the “wild” chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, had other ideas. When the government delegation arrived at the meeting place on the White River, they were greeted by a massive temporary settlement 20,000 strong."

Read the rest of the story at the link below:

All-American occupation movements | Slide Show - Salon.com:

'via Blog this'