Judge Stalls Eviction of Indians; U.S., Protesters Hold Site Talks
Judge Stalls Eviction of Indians; U.S., Protesters Hold Site Talks
Title: Judge Stalls Eviction of Indians; U.S., Protesters Hold Site Talks
Hundreds of American Indians, some wearing warpaint and armed with makeshift tomahawks, held the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a third night today when a federal judge refused to allow the government to evict them.
Judge John Pratt, of the United States district court, refused to sign a show cause order or a contempt citation late today, delaying until at least tomorrow any action against the Indians. They had said they were "prepared to die" in defense of the building they have occupied since Thursday.
Pratt ordered the Indians to leave the building last night but when they refused he ordered the government to try to negotiate a peaceful end to the protest. A team of negotiators from the Interior, Justice and GSA offices met with 10 Indian representatives tonight but both sides said no progress had been made and the talks were recessed until tomorrow morning.
However, Indian spokesmen said they were encouraged by government offers of free space at area airports. They rejected the offers but said the situation "looks very positive because of the fact the negotiators realize our commitment here--that we are willing to die," said Russell Means, a spokesman for the "Trail of Broken Treaties," a coalition of 200 Indian tribes that came to Washington to help their people.
Interior Department officials said Indian representatives looked over alternate quarters offered by the government at another federal building and two nearby military installations, but decided to stay where they were.