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Video: Hundreds Protest 'KKK' Scar left on Native American Vern Traversie
Hundreds of Native Americans demanded justice on Monday from Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota for Vern Traversie.
Traversie, a legally blind member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, says the initials KKK were carved into his chest during open-heart surgery at Regional Hospital in August 2011, reports the Rapid City Journal.
An online video (below) about the scars recently went viral. However, not everyone can see the KKK lettering.
About 300 Native American demonstrators, led by American Indian Movement activist Dennis Banks, marched in a rally to the parking lot of the hospital.
Banks told the crowd: “We can’t let this day go by without getting some answers from this hospital. It can’t be that way.”
Banks also told the demonstrators to put the hospital out of business.
Regional Hospital’s chief executive officer, Tim Sughrue, said the hospital would welcome the opportunity to comment on Traversie’s case, but cannot without his written permission, due to a patient confidentiality law.
Not in attendance, Traversie, issued a statement about the show of support by the Native community and called for a criminal investigation: “I am scarred for life, but I seek justice. I don’t want any other Native American to be treated like I was by the medical professionals who I trusted to take care of me when I was vulnerable."
“I am thankful that so many Native Americans and other people from all over the world have reached out to me to say that they support me. I am humbled by their compassion.”
The Rapid City Police Department did investigate Traversie’s allegations, but at the request of the demonstrators, referred the case to the FBI, Rapid City Police Chief Steve Allender said.
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Comments
I think maybe a Skinwalker
I think maybe a Skinwalker did it, or possibly a witch.
I dont see anything, if I
I dont see anything, if I squint real hard I see the work "ROCK". Looks and smells like a money grab!
Wow...if the surgeon couldn't
Wow...if the surgeon couldn't cut the letters any clearer than that, imagine how he must have screwed up the actual surgery! I mean really - the letter "K" is pretty easy to make, especially with an extremly sharp scapel and soft human skin. I know that doctors have bad handwriting, but this is pre-kindergarten penmanship at best.
I have to disagree. I can see
I have to disagree. I can see the K's on the far right of the picture. Two of them are blatantly visible. Are you guys blind? I did not hear one peep out of any of you, when Marcus and Michele Bachmann spent MILLIONS of our taxpayer dollars on gay rehab therapy. I guess you all find that completely acceptable. I came to this article, with an open mind before reading the article. I took one look at the picture and I could see the K's in about 2 or 3 seconds. It's not hard folks....they are visible.
Where is the outrage on wasted taxpayer dollars on gay rehab therapy or farm subsidies in the millions by members of Congress?
I'm so sick and tired of people talking about what THEY feel is a waste of taxpayer dollars and don't stay consistent with what's a waste....except when OR when it's not politically expedient.
I come back to this post when
I come back to this post when I need a laugh. Talk about living in your own little world...
This has nothing to do with
This has nothing to do with Bachmann. Do you see Jesus in your cereal, too?
What do non-existent carvings
What do non-existent carvings on skin have to do with gay therapy or the Bachmanns?
A lot of what you said went
A lot of what you said went out the window when you claimed to the K's were clearly visible.
I don't see a KKK in the cuts
I don't see a KKK in the cuts but it does seem like a lot of cuts. I'm no surgeon but I've seen post-op pictures before and that seems sloppy. Still, there could have been complications or this kind of surgery required all those other cuts. I'm certainly no expert on surgery but I recognize a K when I see it and I just don't see it.
Dumbest thing I've ever seen.
Dumbest thing I've ever seen. Anyone who sees this WANTS to see it. Get a life.
I think they're Arabic
I think they're Arabic letters. Or maybe Chinese.
Here is the news article
Here is the news article describing the incident and the resulting protest.
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/hundreds-protest-alleged-mistreatment-of-native-patient/article_1287b4f8-a3d2-11e1-8987-0019bb2963f4.html
This must be investigated in full. The "sniff" test issue I have is how could a surgeon do this in a room full of medical professionals, and no one complained? Something seems fishy to me, or that hospital is infested with racists and a massive federal civil rights lawsuit will be starting soon.
The case has been referred to the FBI. For everyone's sake, answers are needed as soon as possible.
Are you freaking kidding me?
Are you freaking kidding me? Yeah, let's just waste tax dollars on an obviously frivolous accusation.
Did you actually read the
Did you actually read the article regarding the protests? The thing might be a setup, but the reaction is real. Do a little homework... this is not just "McDonald's hot coffee burned me" lawsuit.
Aww, crap. Sorry, I misread
Aww, crap. Sorry, I misread your statement.
As for the Native Americans, they need to put down the peyote. An investigation into this is complete b.s. just to appease a bunch of gullible idiots.
This is simply outrageous and
This is simply outrageous and disgusting that a surgeon would do such a thing. This surgeon needs to have his MD license revoked. There is no tolerance for this kind of intolerance and barbaric behavior.
Once again you spout off
Once again you spout off without all the facts. I find it hard to believe a M.D. would put all of his education and career on the line for something this stupid. I for one can't tell if it is KKK or not, certainly I see marks that look like the letter K but hey, none of us can say for certain. Let the investigation proceed before you judge what should be done.
So goes the rantings of the
So goes the rantings of the easily manipulated. If no one pointed this out to you it never would have crossed your mind. It's not there, and you have to be on some serious "I believe anything anyone tells me" drugs in order to believe it.
This is absurd. How you get
This is absurd. How you get KKK out of these surgical scars is a mystery. I guess you WANT to see it.
Maybe from now on, surgeons should make sure that any surgical scars can't be misinterpreted as lettering, LOL!
I basically agree with you.
I basically agree with you. But, as you surely know, people see what they want to see, especially when their agenda is to be offended by everything.
Usually those claiming to be
Usually those claiming to be offended have one agenda...
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Wouldn't work. Even when
Wouldn't work. Even when they point it out I STILL can't see it beyond one coincidental "K".
I could see it now...."doctor, make another incision so it doesn't say "moron". When people want to run a scam there's no stopping them. They'll think of something else...."That says 'BTK', the notorious killer".
Agreed; it is a stretch at
Agreed; it is a stretch at best. If it was surgeons intention to put KKK on the man's chest I am sure there would be no doubt about it.