DROP THE CHARGES
AGAINST NICK TILSEN
In 2022, an incident took place where a Native unhoused relative was being harassed and assaulted by Rapid City Police (RCPD) in Rapid City, South Dakota. Nick Tilsen, CEO and Founder of NDN Collective, pulled over to conduct a routine cop watch. One officer accused Nick of assaulting him despite no physical contact being made with the officer. During the interaction, Nick remained in his vehicle because he felt unsafe surrounded by several police cars. Nick communicated with an officer, who then got approval from someone off-site and allowed Nick to leave.
Despite no immediate action being taken at the time, more than a year later, the officer involved accused Nick of attempting to run him over, leading to a complaint and warrant for Tilsen’s arrest being filed on June 30, 2023 – the same day NDN Collective announced they would host a July 4th March Towards Justice.
Nick was originally charged with aggravated assault and obstruction of a police officer. But just a few weeks before the trial date (January 12, 2026), Nick was notified that the Pennington County Grand Jury added a “simple assault” to the list of charges.
Nick is being systematically targeted as local prosecutors intentionally sought out the police officer named in this case and encouraged him to press charges. The charges brought against Nick are false and inflated to criminalize, silence, and ultimately isolate him from his community through imprisonment. Nick is being targeted by RCPD because he has unapologetically stood on his values and has called for accountability and justice for people harmed by police in Rapid City.
NDN Collective has been pushing for a federal investigation into the Rapid City Police Department for over 3 years. This fight is bigger than just Nick Tilsen. It’s about protecting movement leaders, movement organizations, our right to free speech, and to demand justice for those harmed by colonial white supremacist systems and structures.
NDN Collective believes this to be a politically motivated effort to silence a movement leader by criminalizing his actions and misusing the legal system. If found guilty of these charges, Nick could face up to 26 years in prison.
Nick’s trial is set to begin January 26, 2026, at 9 am MT at the Pennington County Courthouse in Rapid City, SD.
As we see continued targeting of movement leaders, including Nick, we need your support to continue fighting these legal battles. Trials are expensive and are tactics used to drain movement resources. We need resources to continue this fight against legal repression and to continue our work.
This fund safeguards our organization against legal attacks aiming to suppress our leaders, imprison our people, and obstruct our movement’s objectives.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
NDN Legal Fund
Our Impact
The NDN Legal Fund was founded in the summer of 2020 when many worldwide witnessed firsthand the brutal over-policing and use of force against non-violent Land Defenders asserting their First Amendment and Treaty Rights in the Oceti Sakowin Homelands in the He Sapa. With a tremendous outpouring of support for Indigenous relatives facing criminal charges for fighting for their homelands, many watching the events unfold wanted to support from afar.
Land Defenders, Water Protectors, and Indigenous Activists who fight for Native American rights, against racial injustice, and other important advocacy work are often targeted by systemic oppression. This fund provides a pathway for Indigenous people to fight back against systemic oppression when they are targeted by over-prosecution.
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT
1. CALL THE PENNINGTON COUNTY PROSECUTORS’ OFFICE
Tell the Pennington County State Attorney’s Office to drop all charges against Nick Tilsen! Call their office during business hours (8 am – 5 pm MT) using the number and script below
Suggested Call Script:
Hello, I’m a concerned citizen calling to demand that you drop the charges against Nick Tilsen, Founder and CEO of NDN Collective. The charges brought up against Nick are false, inflated, and a politically motivated attempt to suppress his right to free speech. This is a violation of constitutional and human rights. It is your duty to protect the rights of all your constituents, not to weaponize against members of our community. Drop the charges against Nick Tilsen, now! Thank you for your time. |
2. SIGN THE PETITION LINK
Add your signature to help us get to 20,000 signatures by Friday, January 23, and share with your networks!
3. PACK THE COURTHOUSE
Attend the trial at Pennington County Courthouse on 1/26/26 at 7:30 AM.
We will begin with prayer. Light refreshments, lunch, and dinner will be provided.
No clothing with written letters will be permitted. No outbursts or interruptions during the trial are allowed. Keep your phone on silent mode.
If you are unable to attend in person, we ask that you pray for Nick during this trial for his freedom.
4. ORGANIZATIONAL OR TRIBAL LETTER OF SUPPORT
If you are an organizational or Tribal leader wanting to demonstrate additional support for Nick during his trial, you can sign on to this formal organizational letter of support.
5. SHARE THIS INFORMATION
Help us spread information about the facts of this trial with the sample content below. Either draft your own posts based on our samples or help us amplify pre-existing content from others.
6. STAY CONNECTED
Register your contact information to receive email and sms updates about the case.
About the Fund
The NDN Legal Fund’s mission is to:
Protect our people through both offensive and defensive legal representation in the courts. We fully recognize that non-violent direct action and civil disobedience are fundamental revolutionary tools for the liberation of Indigenous People, our lands, and all people. Therefore, this fund is dedicated to providing duty of care for individuals and partners that engage in actions, protests, and cultural activities.
This fund safeguards our organization against legal attacks from local, state, and federal governments aiming to suppress our leaders, imprison our people, and obstruct our movement’s objectives. We recognize the critical nature of our systemic change work amidst a proactive assault on protest rights and free speech. Anti-protest laws, designed to hinder community mobilization, exist in almost every region where NDN operates. Despite the risks, we persist in organizing due to the existential threat faced by our people and tribal nations. This legal fund guarantees proper legal representation in both criminal and civil matters across multiple jurisdictions—Tribal, County, City, State, Federal, and International. This fund will be utilized as needed to protect our people, organization, and movement.
Duty of care and support
Examples of Eligible Activities and Expenses of this Fund include
- Bail and Bond Funds
- Jail Support
- Legal fines, fees and dues
- Attorney Fees
- Attorney Expenses
NDN Advocacy
BLOG | Putting Racism on Trial: Grand Gateway Hotel Trial | Collective Resistance and Community Care Preparing Purselves to Face Authoritarianism Head On
PRESS RELEASE | Judge Moves Nick Tilsen’s Case to Trial for January 26 | The Wičaktepi Remembrance Garden Opens in Rapid City
RESOURCE | Know Your Rights
NDN Legal Fund
For questions about how to donate to the NDN Legal Fund reach out to advancement@ndncollective.org
NDN Collective
NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.
