Russell Means

Means said that an AIM tribunal had banned the Bellecourt brothers but tried to keep the reason for the dissension internal to protect AIM. Means grew up in the Bay area graduating in 1958 from San Leandro High School in San Leandro California. After recovering from the infection Means worked for a year in the Office of Economic Opportunity where he came to know several legal activists who were managing legal action on behalf of the Lakota people.

Russell Charles Means (November 10 1939 – October 22 2012) was an Oglala Sioux activist for the rights of Native American people and libertarian political activist. He was active in politics at his native Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and at the state and national level.