Court Says Indians Can Sue Haig Over Wounded Knee

A federal appeals court ruled today that retired Gen. Alexander M. Haig and others can be sued by Indians who claim that the military illegally intervened to end the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee, S.D.

In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling last November by a three-judge panel of the same court. The panel reversed a lower court’s dismissal of complaints by the Indians that their constitutional rights had been violated.

The 70-day armed occupation of the Pine Ridge Reservation town began Feb. 27, 1973, as a protest to draw attention to complaints by Indians of poor treatment by the federal government. Two Indians were killed during the siege, and two federal officials were wounded, one seriously. Up to 300 Indians were involved in the occupation, which lasted until a surrender was worked out May 8, 1973.