TELL CONGRESS: In 1890, U.S. soldiers slaughtered hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children during the Wounded Knee Massacre. Yet, following this horrific massacre, 20 U.S. soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor. It’s time for Congress to advance healing and reconciliation and revoke these medals. Sign the petition: Pass the Remove the Stain Act to advance justice for Native people slaughtered at Wounded Knee.

In December of 1890, U.S. soldiers slaughtered hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children during the Wounded Knee Massacre on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Yet, following this horrific massacre, 20 U.S. soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration, for carrying out mass murder.

Native Tribes have long pushed for these shameful medals to be revoked. Congress did issue a formal apology to the descendants of the massacre in 1990, but the medals were left in place and no reparations were offered.

Now, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has doubled down, announcing that the medals will never be revoked and declaring the issue settled. Fortunately Secretary Hegseth does NOT get to have the final word.¹

Congress can make revoking these medals a matter of law, protecting their decision from future administrations. That’s exactly why Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley, and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, have introduced the Remove the Stain Act.

This legislation would revoke the Medal of Honor from the soldiers who perpetrated the Wounded Knee Massacre. It would be a vital step toward condemning the horrific atrocities committed on that day, and it’s critical to advancing healing and reconciliation for all Native communities impacted by the genocidal history of brutality and repression suffered at the hands of the U.S. government.

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