The Dakota Sioux Execution Was The Largest In U.S. History — But America Has Forgotten It

The Dakota Sioux Execution Was The Largest In U.S. History — But America Has Forgotten It

#WeNeverForget

The Dakota Sioux Execution Was The Largest In U.S. History — But America Has Forgotten It

By RUTH HOPKINS

May 21, 2018

Every holiday season of your life probably came and went without your realizing that Dec. 26 is the anniversary of the largest execution in U.S. history. On that day in 1862, 38 Dakota Sioux warriors were hung in Mankato, Minn., under orders of President Lincoln. This occurred at the culmination of the Minnesota Uprising, also known as The Dakota War. The conflict had began because the Dakota people were starving to death.

While most Americans have never heard of The Dakota War or the injustices that led to the largest execution in American history, I’ve known about it my entire life. I am a member of the Oceti Sakowin (The Great Sioux Nation). Natives and non-Natives alike whisper legends about us.

It’s hard for them to accept what was done to us, and that they’ve directly benefited from such grievous wrongdoing.