Wounded Knee defense lawyer angry he's not on panel

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SIOUX FALLS (AP) — An upcoming conference in Sioux Falls about the 1973 Wounded Knee uprising is already inciting controversy.

Ken Tilsen represented hundreds of American Indian Movement activists arrested during the 71-day armed takeover as legal coordinator for the Wounded Knee Legal Defense and Offense Committee.

Tilsen says he is angry that a panel about the investigations and prosecutions from the occupation does not include someone from the defense team.

The conference, "Wounded Knee 1973: Forty Years Later," is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Augustana College.

The panel Tilsen is angry about includes assistant U.S. attorneys who prosecuted Wounded Knee cases and an FBI agent

Harry Thompson with the Center for Western Studies says many of the panelists asked to take part. He adds that anyone who wants to participate can.

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