RAPID CITY, S.D.(KOTA)- At yesterday’s march protesting racist policy from the owner of a Rapid City hotel, many older speakers reflected on days where seeing signs reading “no Indians or dogs allowed” were commonplace.

Nick Tilsen, president of NDN Collective – one of the groups that organized the march and leading the corresponding lawsuit – shared his perspective on the situation.

Tilsen said he believes now is the time for action from white leaders in Rapid City.

Fighting racism, Tilsen says, is everyone’s responsibility.

If there were any remaining questions of just how legitimate the proposed “no natives” policy at the Grand Gateway Hotel was, Sunny Red Bear has answered them.

Red Bear, NDN Collective director of racial equity, attempted to book a room in the hotel, and was denied a room.

Red Bear walked through the emotions of what facing this kind of discrimination is like.

Red Bear was still able to find some beauty in the situation though.

The hotel, in a statement to KOTA Territory News, said that they will in fact allow native peoples at the business.

The march was organized by NDN Collective, the American Indian Movement, and the Cheyenne River Grassroots Collective.