Telegrams, Rally Back the Indians At Wounded Knee

A group of students in the Graduate School of Education announced yesterday they had sent telegrams to President Nixon and other government officials proclaiming their support of the Indian activism at Wounded Knee, S.D.

Demonstration

At the same time, a handful of students held a rainsoaked fund-raising demonstration in front of Widener Library for the same cause.

The group of graduate students identified itself as "Representatives of Third World Communities at Harvard University" and proclaimed its joining "with Native Americans in asserting their right to negotiate for that which the U.S. Government unlawfully denies them."

"We'd all like to be able to go there (Wounded Knee), but since we can't go, we'll use other means of support," said Charles W. Cheng, a third year student in the GSE, who issued the statement.

Besides Nixon, telegrams were sent to Senators Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D-Mass.) and Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass.) and Reps. Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. (D-Mass.) and William L. Clay (D-Mo.).

U.S. Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst '47, Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton, State Rep. Melvin M. King and American Indian Movement leader Russell Means also received copies.

"We sent a telegram to Means to let him know of our actions and one to King because we feel he represents the interest and welfare of third world communities in Massachusetts and should be informed of conditions," said Cheng.

He listed blacks, Chicanos, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Asians and "pretty soon working class whites" as being members of the third world.

The group is trying to raise money to pay the expenses of Arthur W. Zimiga, graduate student in education, who is going to Wounded Knee. Zimiga, a Sioux, lives near Wounded Knee.

"We are also starting a drive to raise money for the people at Wounded Knee," said Cheng. "These telegrams are not the end. We intend to follow up on the situation there."

About 25 students huddled on the steps of Widener out of the rain while two or three solicited funds from passers-by. The few illegible rain-streaked picket signs were used to protect heads from the rain