South Dakota Casino Operator Sued for Discrimination Against Native Americans

The possessor of South Dakota’s Grand Gateway Hotel and the property’s Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino was named inwards a young governance lawsuit. The feds take the hotel and gambling casino testament non cater approach to Native Americans who tried to continue at the property.

The defendants’ actions are a infringement of Title II of the federal 1964 Civil Rights Act, the tribunal action mechanism farther claims. The suit, including a seven-page complaint, was filed on Wed inward South Dakota federal court.

It names the Rapid City hotel’s and casino’s owner, identified as Retsel Corporation. It also names deuce company’s directors, Connie Uhre and her son, St. Nicholas Uhre.

Offensive Behavior

The cause was attended by sharp reproof by federal officials.

Policies that prohibit Native Americans from accessing public places are patently offensive, racially discriminatory and feature no more put inward our bon ton today,” US Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said at a military press group discussion on Wednesday.

“By putting inwards come in a insurance that renders Native Americans to second-class citizens, defendants get clear ravel afoul of our public accommodations law,” Clarke added.

Restricting access to a hotel based on a person’s race is prohibited by federal law, concurred US Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell of South Dakota.

“We are called to ensure that individuals are treated every bit at public accommodations inwards South Dakota,” she added in a statement. “We are committed to protecting that profound redress for Native Americans.”

No Native Americans Allowed

On March 20, Connie Uhre told other Rapid City hotel owners and managers that she did “not require to reserve Natives on property… The job is we ut non experience the skillful ones from the tough natives…so we just have to say no to them.”

Also, she posted a financial statement in a thread on her Facebook accounting that “We will no more yearner earmark any Native American [sic]” in the Grand Gateway or in the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino.”

Also, on Mar 21 and Mar 22, the defendants allegedly turned away Native Americans who tried to rule book rooms inwards the hotel.

On Mar 21, Sunny Red Bear, a Rapid City occupier who is a fellow member of the Lakota from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was told past an employee that “locals” weren’t allowed at the property, Indianz.Com, a Native American intelligence situation reported. The tribal member tried to rent a hotel room at the Grand Gateway.

Then, on Mar 22, representatives of NDN Collective, where Sunny Red River Bear is the theatre director of racial equity for the Native American protagonism organization, also tried to book rooms at the hotel. They, too, were denied the rooms, the write up said.

Native Americans Ordered to Leave

Nicholas Uhre and so appeared in the hotel reservation area. He demanded to experience if those trying to book rooms were associated with the NDN Collective.

When they responded that they were, Mr. Uhre demanded that they lead the hotel and and so followed them out,” the complaint revealed.

In March, NDN Collective filed a civil rights stratum litigate lawsuit against Grand Gateway for its “racist and preferential intervention of Native people.”

“This isn’t an Indian problem, this is a white supremacy problem, and it shows upwards inwards businesses the likes of the Grand Gateway Hotel and inward urban center council, too,” Sunny Red River Bear was quoted by Indianz.Com.

Connie and Nicholas Uhre denied favoritism when responding to the NDN Collective lawsuit, the account said. They accused the chemical group of defamation, trespass, and of being a “nuisance.”

As a ensue of NDN Collective’s wrongful conduct, Retsel Corporation and Nick Uhre have suffered indemnification inwards an amount to follow determined at trial,” a sound counterclaim alleged.

Fatal Shooting

A fatal shot took position inward March 19 inwards ace of the hotel rooms. Both the suspect and the dupe were Native American.

Quincy Bear Robe, 19, has pled non shamed to second-degree murder. Myron Pourier, also 19, died from the gunfire.