A.I.M. PBS

A.I.M. PBS

By Shane Zimmerman

Open Ended

Where and Why was the American Indian Movement established?

https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-what-was-american-indian-movement/

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What do you suppose the "De-Indianization" program was? How was it devistating?

https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-us-governments-education-native-american-children/

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Describe 3 examples of what life was like for kids at American Indian Boarding Schools?

https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-taken-their-families/

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When and where did Wounded Knee 2 occur? Occording to Russel Means, why were they at wounded knee?

https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-what-was-occupation-wounded-knee/

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Why did Marlen Brando refuse his Oscar? How did most Americans feel about what was happening at wounded knee 2?

https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-calling-attention-wounded-knee/

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Why do most American Indians not live on the reservation? What did the government promise? what was the result of this?

https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-relocation-native-americans/

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Read the following excerpt. What does it seem to imply the goals of AIM were?

"The American Indian Movement (AIM) started in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1968 amid rising concerns about police brutality, racism, substandard housing and joblessness in Native communities, not to mention long-held concerns about treaties broken by the U.S. government. Founding members of the organization included George Mitchell, Dennis Banks, Eddie Benton Banai, and Clyde Bellecourt, who rallied the Native American community to discuss these concerns. Soon the AIM leadership found itself fighting for tribal sovereignty, restoration of Native lands, preservation of indigenous cultures, quality education and healthcare for Native peoples.​"

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According to document  A on the Stonewall riot, what was the real reason the police raided the Stonewall inn?

Document A Stonewall Riot

According to reports, the Stonewall Inn . . . was a mecca for the homosexual element in the village who wanted nothing but a private little place where they could congregate, drink, dance and do whatever little girls do when they get together. Last Friday the privacy of the Stonewall was invaded by police from the First Division. It was a raid. They had a warrant. After two years, police said they had been informed that liquor was being served on the premises.

 Since the Stonewall was without a license, the place was being closed. It was the law. . . . Two participants recently recalled the battle and issued a warning to the cops: “If they close up all the gay joints in this area, there is going to be all out war.” 

Bruce and Nan: Both said they were refugees from Indiana and had come to New York where they could live together happily ever after. . . . “I'll bet you didn't see what they did to the Stonewall. Did the pigs tell you that they smashed everything in sight? Did you ask them why they stole money out of the cash register and then smashed it with a sledge hammer? Did you ask them why it took them two years to discover that the Stonewall didn't have a liquor license?” . . . “They let us operate just as long as the payoff is regular,” Nan said bitterly. “I believe they closed up the Stonewall because there was some trouble with the payoff to the cops. I think that's the real reason. It's a shame. It was such a lovely place. We never bothered anybody. Why couldn't they leave us alone?” . . . The men of the First Division were unable to find any humor in the situation, despite the comical overtones of the raid. “They were throwing more than lace hankies,” one inspector said. “I was almost decapitated by a slab of thick glass. It was thrown like a discus and just missed my throat by inches. The beer can didn’t miss, though. It hit me right above the temple.” Police also believe the club was operated by Mafia connected owners. The police did confiscate the Stonewall's cash register as proceeds from an illegal operation. . . . 

Source: Jerry Lisker, The New York Daily News, July 6, 1969.

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According to document B on the Stonewall riot, which groups of people helped to escalate the riots? Why did these groups become involved?

Document B: Sylvia Rivera (Excerpt)

 Born and raised in New York City, Sylvia Rivera participated in the Stonewall Riots as a teenager. Throughout her life, she fought for equal rights for LGBT people. This is an excerpt of a speech she gave at a meeting of the Latino Gay Men of New York, a community organization.

 We were all involved in different struggles, including myself and many other transgender people. But in these struggles, in the civil rights movement, in the war movement, in the women’s movement, we were still outcasts. The only reason they tolerated the transgender community in some of these movements was because we were gung-ho. . . . We had nothing to lose. . . . We were all in the bar, having a good time. Lights flashed on, we knew what was coming; it’s a raid. . . . The routine was that the cops get their payoff, they confiscate the liquor . . . a padlock would go on the door. What we did, back then, was disappear to a coffee shop or any place in the neighborhood for fifteen minutes. You come back, the Mafia was there cutting the padlock off, bringing in more liquor, and back to business as usual. . . . The confrontation started outside by throwing change at the police. We started with the pennies, the nickels, the quarters, and the dimes. 

“Here’s your payoff, you pigs!” . . . Once word of mouth got around that the Stonewall had gotten raided, and that there’s a confrontation going on, people came from the clubs. But we have to remember one thing: that it was not just the gay community and the street queens that really escalated this riot; it was also the help of the many radical straight men and women that lived in the Village at that time, that knew the struggle of the gay community and the trans community. . . . 

So then the tactical police force came and heads were being bashed left and right. But what I found very impressive that evening, was that the more that they beat us, the more we went back for. We were determined that evening that we were going to be a liberated, free community. 

Source: Sylvia Rivera, speech to the Latino Gay Men of New York, June 2001. Reprinted in Centro Journal, Spring 2007. 

Open Ended

how are documents A and B similar?