Hotel Casino Forced to Issue Apology to Native Americans

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 11/25/2023

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Grand Gateway Hotel

It has been reported that a hotel-casino in Rapid City, South Dakota, has been forced to apologize to Native Americans over allegations of racism. According to reports, the Grand Gateway Hotel, a prominent hotel-casino, has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of racial discrimination against Native Americans.

This follows a controversial incident where the hotel’s owners, Connie Uhre, 75, and her son Nicholas Uhre, imposed a ban on Native American patrons. The settlement requires a public apology to tribal organizations in South Dakota and the Great Plains region, with the owners standing accused of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Controversial Facebook Post on Banning Native Americans

The incident that sparked the legal battle began in March 2022 when Connie Uhre is said to have taken to Facebook and declared a blanket ban on Native Americans entering the business. This included a ban on them entering the hotel’s casino sports bar, Cheers, known for its video lottery terminals.

On the same day, her son sent an email echoing this sentiment, stating an inability to distinguish between ‘bad’ and ‘nice’ Native Americans. According to reports, he wrote:

We don’t know the bad ones from the nice natives, so we have to say no to them.

The drastic measure followed a tragic shooting at the hotel, involving two Native Americans, Quincy Bear Robe, and Myron Blaine Pourier Jr. The incident in question resulted in Pourier’s death.

Bear Robe was later charged with first-degree manslaughter, to which he pleaded guilty. He is now awaiting sentencing. The incident, however, led to the hotel’s contentious policy, which was then met with immediate backlash. The policy sparked civil rights lawsuits and demonstrations by Native American groups and allies.

It was further reported that activists from the NDN Collective, among others, were refused when attempting to book rooms, confirming the discriminatory practice.

Common Assault Charge for Owner After Spraying Protestors

The situation was further fueled when Connie Uhre was found guilty earlier in November of common assault after she sprayed protesters with a bottle of Pledge dust spray. The hotel temporarily closed amid the turmoil but has since reopened.

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division condemned the hotel’s actions as driven by ‘naked animus’ and said that it was a reflection of historical discrimination against Native Americans. This is something that officials want to clamp down on.

Senior officials from the DOJ highlighted the efforts of tribal elders, local officials, and Native American organizations in standing against the hotel’s actions. They added that the settlement played a significant role in terms of sending a clear message to businesses across the United States about the importance of non-discriminatory access to public establishments regardless of race.

The settlement, involving a public apology and the barring of Connie Uhre from managerial roles in the hotel for four years, marks a crucial step in upholding civil rights laws and addressing racial discrimination in public spaces. Officials hope that it will serve as an example for other businesses in the state.