CONFRONTING RACIST PROSECUTORIAL RHETORIC
Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective Founder & CEO
In 2023, Nick Tilsen pulled over to conduct a routine cop watch where a Native unhoused relative was being stopped by Rapid City Police (RCPD) in Rapid City, South Dakota.
A year later from that cop watch, Nick received notice that he was being charged with aggravated assault and obstruction of a police officer from the incident. The officer wasn’t touched at all, no physical harm caused to any officer in this incident, and there is video evidence that proves Nick is innocent.
Nick is being systematically targeted as an Indigenous movement leader, 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. This is a continuation of the American legacy of vilifying Indigenous people and the legal system targeting and over-criminalizing Indigenous movement leaders.
NDN Collective has been pushing for a federal investigation into the Rapid City Police Department for over 3 years for this exact issue. This fight is bigger than just Nick Tilsen. It’s about protecting movement leaders, movement organizations, and our right to free speech and to demand justice for those harmed by colonized white supremacist systems and structures.
Nick is a devoted father, son, uncle, spiritual helper, mentor, and leader respected by his elders, the broader movement, and Indigenous Peoples’. This is his legacy – they won’t define or diminish it.
This is a violation of constitutional and human rights. Here is how you can help:
Contribute to the NDN Legal Fund
Demand the Charges Against Nick Tilsen Be Dropped
Case Timeline: Share This Information With Your Peoples'
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.
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
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.
