KOLO TV
After a confrontation with some of the 40 demonstrators rallying in downtown Reno to protest against Columbus Day and the Dakota Access oil pipeline, the driver of a white pickup truck plowed into the crowd, injuring five and sending one to the hospital.
A pickup truck plowed into a crowd of mostly Native demonstrators in Reno, Nevada on Monday October 10, injuring five and sending one to the hospital. Participants in the demonstration, organized by the American Indian Movement of Northern Nevada (AIMNN), were gathered under the city’s Reno Arch downtown to draw attention to the real meaning of Columbus Day. They were also there to educate passersby about the conflict surrounding the Dakota Access oil pipeline being routed near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
Suddenly, witnesses said, a white Nissan pickup truck drove by, its occupants hurling slurs. Then it circled back, and stopped. Some of the demonstrators walked up to the vehicle and had words with the occupants. Suddenly the engines revved, and the truck plowed into the group, sending people flying.
Cameras were already rolling to document the demonstration, and they streamed the entire horrifying incident on Facebook. Police said in a statement that the incident occurred at 6:41 p.m., according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
One witness recounted how two men “drove into marchers after first being seen at the rally start point, driving by once shouting slurs, and then doubling back around to get in front of the protesters before driving into them,” wrote Diana Heideman, owner of Wallflower Botanicals, in a Facebook post. “One elder, a grandmother there with her grandchildren, was hospitalized with injuries to her legs, a broken tailbone, and further tests pending. She is stable and in good spirits. She was planning to depart for #StandingRock tomorrow.”
Several protesters were posing for a photo under the arch when the pickup pulled up for the second time, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported. Police told KOLO TV that the driver called in from a few blocks away to give his own side of the story, and that police had interviewed him and are cooperating with authorities. That was not enough for one of the rally’s organizers, though.
“This is a hate crime,” Quanah Brightman, executive director of United Native Americans Inc. told the Reno Gazette-Journal, adding that the driver had been “stalking” the group of demonstrators. “It’s still brutal to see this kind of racism in America. That man deserves life [in prison] for what he did.”
Via ICTMN.
a white Nissan pickup truck drove by, its occupants hurling slurs
Buy American!
How could someone deliberately try to run a person down with a truck? Fuck!
Marcus:
When people are fueled and ruled by bigotry, hate, and fear, no act is unthinkable.
As of last night the pigs were still saying they weren’t sure if the driver committed a crime and hadn’t arrested him.
When dark-skinned people run over white people it’s, obviously, terrorism and the SWAT team is sent to shoot the terrorist. Are you sure it’s actually a crime when the obstacles run over aren’t white? That’s a difficult legal question that needs to be thoroughly pondered before taking any rash action against the white driver.
Oh my goodness, my best wishes for the swift recovery of those injured, and holy shit but I hope the person who did this is arrested and charged and convicted. Hate crime, yes.
So fucking what? Guy probably insists the protestors jumped in front of the truck to make a point. Fuck him.
Kengi:
Oh yes. I’m sure the bigoted, violent asshole will soon be hailed as a hero. I’ll put money right now there won’t be any prosecution, given that it was just
prairiedesert niggers being run over.Yet one more case of American racist domestic terrorism.
And they don’t have a probable cause to suspect that the driver wasn’t at least criminally negligent?
So, this serious crime will be minimised and brushed aside, I assume? Tragic accident, spilled coffee in his lap, nice family man who wouldn’t dream of deliberately trying to mow down grandmothers in the street? No terrorism or hate crimes here, no sirree.
Grrrrrrrrr.
This happens Monday, and a Google news search reveals next to no national media coverage. Typical and infuriating
Forgiven:
Yeah, it is. This is all over Indian media, and all the Indians on twitter and FB, but msm coverage about anything to do with Standing Rock? Not so much.
SenseOfTheAbsurd:
At this point, I assume so. I’ll update as soon as there is further news.
Marcus Ranum @1:
Ummm. He forgot to bring his gun, and his vehicle was the only accessible weapon?
to Kengi @ 3
First I read the headline and I was horrified. Then I read in your comment that the cops weren’t sure a crime had been committed and now I’m horrified and disgusted.
Umm… Why are they cops again?