Today in Labor History August 28, 1990: New York state police closed all roads to the St. Regis Mohawk reservation to prevent Mohawks from crossing the international border during a protest to defend Mohawk land from private development of a golf course. On March 11, 1990, members of the Mohawk community erected a barricade blocking access to the dirt side road between Route 344 and "The Pines". After ignoring 2 court injunctions ordering them to remove the barricades, the police intervened, deploying tear gas and concussion grenades, and opening fire on the Mohawks. After a 15-minute gun battle, the police retreated, abandoning six cruisers and a bulldozer, which the Mohawks seized. The conflict lasted from 7/11-9/26/1990, with 2,500 non-local activists and warriors supporting 600 local Mohawks against an army of 4,500 soldiers and 2,000 police. One person was killed on each side. After 26 days of siege without supplies being let through, the land defenders ended the struggle. However, the cops and military continued to attack them after they began to leave, including a 14-year-old, who was bayoneted near the heart, and who almost died from her wound. But the golf course expansion was halted.
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