On this day in 1972, 10-15 inches of rain or an estimated 800,000 acre feet of water roughly the equivalent of 14.5 Pactola Reservoirs fell in six hours causing the Canyon Lake dam on the west end of Rapid City to fill with debris and fail. The resulting flood was the deadliest natural disaster in state history destroying Teepee Town and killing 238 people mostly poor American Indians. The flood injured some 3,000 and caused some $165 million in property damage.
In its aftermath the feds gave Rapid City rent supports to house those displaced by the disaster but today the town is a hole filled with the stench of genocide and hopelessness. The Rapid City Police Department is staffed by white supremacists and bigots. A former police chief now Mayor Steve Allender has been accused of managing "a bunch of racists." American Indians in the RCPD are ridiculed, reviled and rejected by their relatives because cops' lives suck. Little wonder cops abuse their families, alcohol, drugs, food, power, detainees and occasionally murder their wives.
One reason Republicans don't like Common Core history standards is that the curriculum includes the near-extermination of Native Americans by European colonialism long-ignored by textbooks. Rapid City's population is about 11% Native but South Dakota's jails and prisons are overwhelmingly warehousing American Indians.
Hey, Rapid City: expand Medicaid for these people then offer a $3000 stipend to those who qualify, more for families and veterans then encourage people to flee South Dakota's unforgiving winters.
Governor Noem gave clear, well thought-out comments today regarding her attitude toward policing, protesting, and her willingness to work with everyone in South Dakota to solve problems. She is clearly proud of her commitment to be down to earth, hardworking and honest. Knowingly or unknowingly, she gave a master class in institutional racism. Noem’s comments today rest on racist assumptions. [Racism is not Politics]
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