On December 26th, 1862. 38 Dakhota warriors were hung in Mankato, Minnesota. They were wrongfully convicted of war crimes while trying to protect their homelands during the US-Dakota war. Shortly after freeing the slaves, Abraham Lincoln signed off to execute these 38 Dakhota men. Over 4,000 Americans showed up to watch the public hanging. To this day, this is the largest mass hanging in United States history.
Remember the Genocide of this countries Indigenous Peoples everyday, remember that YOU ARE ON STOLEN LAND. And my people died trying to protect it.
Picture by Travis Blackbird
"During the war, Dakota men attacked and killed over 500 white settlers, causing thousands to flee the area[13]: 107 and took hundreds of "mixed-blood" and white hostages, almost all women and children.[14][15] By the end of the war, 358(?) settlers had been killed, in addition to 77 soldiers and 36 volunteer militia and armed civilians.[16][17] The total number of Dakota casualties is unknown, but 150 Dakota men died in battle. On September 26, 1862, 269 "mixed-blood" and white hostages were released to Sibley's troops at Camp Release.[18] Interned at Fort Snelling, approximately 2,000 Dakota surrendered or were taken into custody,[19] including at least 1,658 non-combatants, as well as those who had opposed the war and helped to free the hostages.[15][13]: 233
In less than six weeks, a military commission, composed of officers from the Minnesota volunteer Infantry, sentenced 303 Dakota men to death. President Abraham Lincoln reviewed the convictions and approved death sentences for 39 out of the 303.[8]"
I understand this is a relatively small piece of the overall history of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and a lot of things feed in and out of it...but this context is very important to not add.
