It’s been a long time since we’ve talked about the Grand Gateway Hotel. On December 15th, this particular legal battle against racism in the Rapid City area will pick back up.. The trial will begin with jury selection and is expected to last about a week.
A lot has changed in Rapid City in the past three and a half years. But one thing that hasn’t changed is NDN’s commitment to fighting racism in Rapid City and beyond. Despite being the first inhabitants of Rapid City, Natives are still facing systemic racism – from being disproportionately targeted by the police to the discrimination Native children face in Rapid City schools. We know what happened at the Grand Gateway Hotel is just one example of a larger underlying problem. Addressing systemic racism takes all of us standing together and stating that racist behavior and actions like those perpetrated by the Grand Gateway Hotel are unacceptable and not welcome in Rapid City.
We are calling for the Rapid City community to stand with us during this trial by taking the following actions:
- Pack the courthouse – Show your support by attending the trial in Rapid City during the week of December 15. We ask that folks who do attend dress in court-appropriate attire. No AIM, Landback, or advocacy-related clothing will be permitted and please do not protest or gather outside of the courthouse.
- Boycott businesses with racist policies – Do not book any lodging with properties owned by the Restel Corporation. This includes the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Foothills Inn.
- Support from afar – for those not local to Rapid City, you can support the work by donating to the NDN Legal Fund. Lengthy legal battles are a deliberate tactic used to suppress movements and drain resources.
- Stay connected – Text “GATEWAY” to 50302 to receive sms updates about this trial, follow us on social media @ndncollective, watch our podcast Landback For the People available on most streaming platforms, and join our monthly newsletter to stay updated.
Timeline of Events
As a reminder, here’s what happened:
March 19, 2022: A shooting occurs at the Grand Gateway Hotel, and 19 year old Myron Pourier tragically loses his life.
March 20, 2022: Connie Uhre, the previous owner of the hotel who has since passed away, posts on social media stating her intent to ban all Natives from the Grand Gateway Hotel and the attached bar, Cheers Lounge.
March 21, 2022: NDN Collective staff attempt to book rooms at the Grand Gateway Hotel – both as individuals and on behalf of the organization. They are denied service and kicked out of the hotel by the manager.
March 22, 2022: The entire staff at Cheers Lounge quits in protest.
March 23, 2022: NDN Collective files a federal civil rights class action lawsuit against the Grand Gateway Hotel and hosts a march and rally.
April 20, 2022: NDN Collective holds an action at The Foothills Inn to kick off a boycott of all properties owned by the Uhre family.
May 27, 2022: Connie Uhre attacks community members picketing outside.
July 2022: The boycotts end, after community members picket three days a week for three months.
October 19, 2022: The Department of Justice (DOJ) files a lawsuit against the owners and operators of the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino – after conducting a months-long investigation sparked by NDN Collective’s organizing, protesting, marching, and filing of a separate lawsuit.
October 13, 2023: Connie Uhre is found guilty of two counts of simple assault and acquitted on a third count.
October 31, 2023: Another lawsuit is filed against the Grand Gateway Hotel by a Wisconsin family alleging they were denied service based on the race of a Native family member.
November 13, 2023: A settlement agreement is reached between the Department of Justice and the family that owns the Grand Gateway Hotel and Cheers Lounge in Rapid City.
December 13, 2023: NDN Collective receives a court-ordered apology letter from the Grand Gateway Hotel and responds accordingly.
September 2024: Days before the scheduled start of the federal civil rights trial brought by NDN Collective, the owners of the Grand Gateway Hotel file for bankruptcy, forcing the pause of all other litigation. The bankruptcy case was dismissed two months later.
September 2025: Connie Uhre passes away at the age of 78.
December 15, 2025: Federal civil rights trial resulting from NDN Collective’s 2022 lawsuit is set to begin.
United Against Racism
This trial is about more than just the incident at the Grand Gateway Hotel – it is an opportunity to come together and put racism on trial in Rapid City. There are many people in Rapid City, both Native and non-Native, who want to build a more inclusive and welcoming community for everyone. This case shows that Native people and our allies will not stop seeking justice, inclusion, and equity for our communities. As Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle, Director of He Sapa Initiatives at NDN Collective, shared last year in her open letter to the Rapid City Community:
“Accountability for the Grand Gateway Hotel is just one part of this journey toward justice, but a necessary and powerful step forward toward creating a world where all of our Indigenous children, relatives, and elders know they are seen, deeply valued, and empowered to live their best lives.”
