Two Democrats and a Republican have introduced legislation to rescind 20 Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. cavalry soldiers for their actions in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota.
Democratic Reps. Denny Heck of Washington and Deb Haaland of New Mexico partnered with GOP Rep. Paul Cook of California to introduce the Remove the Stain Act on Tuesday, arguing that the soldiers who took part in the battle that killed hundreds of Native Americans did not deserve the honor.
“I believe the introduction of this bill today shows the continued work and strength of the Native American people who have fought for over a century for the United States to acknowledge the genocide of our people that has taken place on this soil,” Haaland said during a Tuesday press conference.
The Medal of Honor is the military’s highest honor. The lawmakers and many Native Americans argue that the 20 awarded soldiers who took part in Wounded Knee do not deserve to be considered among America’s greatest heroes.
“There was no honor in these murders. And the Lakota [tribe], we live with these traumas to this day,” said Manny Iron Hawk, chairman of Heartbeat At Wounded Knee 1890 and a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. “Our lives are reminders of our courage, strength, and the will to survive in the 21st century.”
The Battle at Wounded Knee took place on Dec. 29, 1890 against a group of Lakota camped at Wounded Knee Creek under the supervision of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment.
Col. James Forsyth demanded the Lakota turn over their weapons. Members of the tribe began doing the “Ghost Dance,” a spiritual ceremony that many Lakota at the time believed would cause the “white man” to vanish and bring about a Native American utopia.
The Americans thought the dance was a war dance. One soldier tried to confiscate a rifle from a Native American who fought back. During the tussle, the rifle discharged and the U.S. soldiers that had surrounded the Lakota opened fire. The Lakota attempted to fight back before breaking and running.
Up to 300 Native Americans died in the mayhem. The U.S. lost around 25 to 30 soldiers.
