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Dennis Banks and the Rise of the American Indian Movement

Eugene Powell

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Published in Ojibwa Warrior: Dennis Banks And The Rise Of The American Indian Movement

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Dennis Banks was a Native American activist who played a key role in the founding of the American Indian Movement (AIM). Born in 1937 on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, Banks was raised in a traditional Ojibwe household. He attended boarding school, where he experienced racism and discrimination firsthand. This experience radicalized Banks, and he became involved in the Native American rights movement in the 1960s.

Ojibwa Warrior: Dennis Banks and the Rise of the American Indian Movement

by Dennis Banks

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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In 1968, Banks co-founded AIM with Clyde Bellecourt and George Mitchell. AIM was a militant organization that fought for the rights of Native Americans. AIM's tactics often included protests, occupations, and armed confrontations. Banks was one of the most visible and outspoken leaders of AIM, and he was frequently arrested and jailed for his activism.

In 1973, Banks was involved in the Wounded Knee occupation. The occupation was a 71-day standoff between Native American activists and federal agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The occupation ended with a massacre of Native Americans by federal agents. Banks was charged with murder for his role in the occupation, but he was acquitted in 1975.

Banks continued to be an active advocate for Native American rights throughout his life. He died in 2017 at the age of 80. Banks' legacy as a fearless and committed activist continues to inspire Native Americans today.

The American Indian Movement

The American Indian Movement (AIM) was founded in 1968 by Dennis Banks, Clyde Bellecourt, and George Mitchell. AIM was a militant organization that fought for the rights of Native Americans. AIM's tactics often included protests, occupations, and armed confrontations.

AIM's most famous action was the Wounded Knee occupation in 1973. The occupation was a 71-day standoff between Native American activists and federal agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The occupation ended with a massacre of Native Americans by federal agents. AIM was also involved in the Trail of Broken Treaties march in 1972 and the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Washington, D.C., in 1972.

AIM's activism was controversial, but it helped to raise awareness of Native American issues. AIM also helped to inspire a new generation of Native American activists. AIM's legacy continues today, as Native American activists continue to fight for their rights.

The Impact of Dennis Banks and AIM

Dennis Banks and AIM had a profound impact on the Native American rights movement. Banks was a charismatic and outspoken leader who helped to raise awareness of Native American issues. AIM's militant tactics were often controversial, but they helped to force the government to address Native American concerns.

Banks and AIM's activism inspired a new generation of Native American activists. These activists continue to fight for Native American rights today. Banks' legacy as a fearless and committed activist continues to inspire Native Americans today.

Dennis Banks was a Native American activist who played a key role in the founding of the American Indian Movement (AIM). Banks was a charismatic and outspoken leader who helped to raise awareness of Native American issues. AIM's militant tactics were often controversial, but they helped to force the government to address Native American concerns.

Ojibwa Warrior: Dennis Banks and the Rise of the American Indian Movement

by Dennis Banks

4.6 out of 5