Kevin McKiernan describes yesterday's events. Four FBI agents were arrested in Rapid City, South Dakota for assaulting lawyers and legal workers and making obscene remarks Two agents were charged with attacking a private investigator; another agent smashed a camera into the face of a defense committee attorney. Lawyers delivered the FBI agents into Rapid City police custody. An FBI agent knocked a defense team member down the police station steps and uttered a string of obscenities. According to Luke McKissick, harassment of lawyers and legal workers has been severe for last three months, and is part of an intimidation effort. Mark Lane says government first created conditions for the destruction of Indian people. When they protested they were fired upon and lawyers to defend them are assaulted by the same government. Lawyers recorded license plates and took photos. FBI agents moved into a building next to the defense committee law office and evidence suggests agents conducted electronic surveillance. The lawyers say it appears the agents have learned nothing from Watergate. Reporter track only, no actualities.
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SPEAKER: Mark Lane and Luke McKissack, two attorneys for the Indian leaders arrested at Wounded Knee, announced today that four FBI agents were arrested yesterday in an historically unprecedented action for assaulting lawyers and legal workers and for making obscene remarks in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Two agents were charged with attacking a private investigator, Lake Headley of Los Angeles, while Headley-- who works for the Wounded Knee legal defense-offense committee-- was conducting an official inquiry. That assault was witnessed by Mark Lane.
The next assault took place as an FBI agent smashed a camera into the face of Anthony Muller, a Colorado attorney, who also works with the defense committee. That assault was witnessed by two attorneys, Carol Lebow of New York and Roger Finzel of Washington, DC. The lawyers called the Rapid City police department and delivered the FBI agents into their custody.
While the agents were being held at the Rapid City police station, another FBI agent knocked Carolyn Mugar down the steps of the police station and uttered a series of obscenities. With the assistance and cooperation of Rapid City Chief of Detectives, Stan Zakinski, Ms. Mugar-- who is the photographer and investigator for the defense committee-- affected the citizen's arrest of the suspect.
McKissack said today that the harassment of lawyers and legal workers for the Wounded Knee defendants had been severe for the last three months and appears to be part of a concerted governmental effort to deny the Indian people their day in court. He added, "these efforts to intimidate the defense committee and interfere with its work will be met by an application for relief from the federal courts, especially since various agents yesterday threatened lawyers and legal workers and vowed to get even."
Lane said, quote, "the circle now seems to be complete. First, the federal government establishes conditions for the destruction of the Indian people. When they protest at Wounded Knee, they are fired upon, some wounded, some killed, and others charged with the crime of attempted liberation with a penalty of 125 years in jail.
Went through the legal system, the Indian people attempt to develop a defense to explain to the court and the jury and the American people why Wounded Knee was necessary. Their lawyers and legal workers are assaulted by agents of the same government," end of quote.
At the time of the FBI assault, the lawyers and legal workers were engaged in preparing for a defense motion by jotting down the license plate numbers of government vehicles and photographing the agents. The Rapid City police department and the city attorney explained to FBI agents that such conduct was legal.
Lane and McKissack pointed out that, quote, "almost a score of FBI agents had moved into the building next to the defense committee office. And that on numerous occasions, agents and government vehicles had surrounded the law office during evening hours. And that there is evidence to suggest that FBI agents have conducted electronic surveillance and bugging of the law office."
Lane and McKissack concluded, it appears that FBI agents have learned nothing from Watergate. For just as the former acting director of the FBI was testifying to his illegal conduct before the Ervin Committee, the local agents were assaulting lawyers and legal workers in the streets of Rapid City. Our clients were not here at the time since they were involved in the religious ceremonies at the Sun Dance on the Rosebud Reservation.