Faculty Advisor

Bristow, Nancy

Area of Study

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Publication Date

Summer 2013

Abstract

In February 1973, members of the American Indian Movement and its supporters took over the Pine Ridge Reservation town of Wounded Knee to protest the government of Oglala Sioux tribal chairman Richard Wilson and the American government’s treatment of American Indians. The protesters successfully held the town for 71 consecutive days despite attempts by armed federal officials to oust them. I argue that conservative newspapers Chicago Tribune and Atlanta Constitution, presented a narrative of violence and characterized the protesters as a threat to American society; however, the Arizona Daily Star—which covered similar topics—used journalistic methods which enabled a sympathetic perspective towards the Movement and Wounded Knee II to emerge. The Arizona Daily Star challenged a conservative narrative of senseless violence and instead included the American Indian perspective on the occupation in its articles.

Publisher

University of Puget Sound

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