After the occupation of the Bureau Of Indian Affairs by A.I.M. the President of the Oglala Lakota Sioux of Pine Ridge, South Dakota formed his own "goon squad" with the authorization of the Tribal council as a response to the perceived threat to the peace that A.I.M. posed. President Dick Wilson was known for assisting his friends and family with government jobs and special treatment, but for ignoring the traditional Indians living outside of town. When A.I.M. called out this corrupt behavior in their list of grievances during the Bureau of Indian Affairs takeover, Dick Wilson went on a bloody vendetta with his mercenary police force, shooting, harassing, arresting anyone who was in or was believed to be affiliated with A.I.M.
After Russell means and Dennis Banks, the two main leaders of A.I.M at the time, had come back from Washington D.C., Dick Wilson and his goons set out to drive out the two leaders and any other A.I.M. members. It was clear that the tribal government was aligned with the Bureau of Indian affairs when federal marshals were also brought in to support Wilson and on February 27th, 1973, the goons caught and physically harassed Russell means in the local shopping center. The next, day A.I.M. would occupy the town of Wounded Knee, the site of the massacre of 200 Lakota men, women, and children.
After Russell means and Dennis Banks, the two main leaders of A.I.M at the time, had come back from Washington D.C., Dick Wilson and his goons set out to drive out the two leaders and any other A.I.M. members. It was clear that the tribal government was aligned with the Bureau of Indian affairs when federal marshals were also brought in to support Wilson and on February 27th, 1973, the goons caught and physically harassed Russell means in the local shopping center. The next, day A.I.M. would occupy the town of Wounded Knee, the site of the massacre of 200 Lakota men, women, and children.