South Dakota

Sioux Falls Black leaders unimpressed with response to neo-Nazi march

Published

2 years ago

June 10, 2024

Sioux Falls Black leaders unimpressed with response to neo-Nazi march

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The fallout continues after multiple incidents of a neo-Nazi group marching in South Dakota cities.

Those activities happened over the weekend at the State Capitol in Pierre and in Deadwood.

State leaders have condemned the marches, but the level of response has been underwhelming for three leaders from the Sioux Falls branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Langston Newton, the president of the NAACP in Sioux Falls, had spent his entire Saturday celebrating the diversity of the city while representing the civil rights group in the Sioux Falls Pride Parade and Festival of Cultures.

Then, while at a Levitt at The Falls music show, he received the news about the neo-Nazi march in Pierre.

”Honestly, it was disbelief. To see neo-Nazis in 2024 go to your state capitol is, like, ‘This has to be fake,’” said Newton, who first spent several minutes making sure to confirm that the event was a reality.

“It’s jarring. It’s absolutely jarring.”

NAACP Sioux Falls treasurer Ashley Knoff used the same word, and added “visceral” and “shocking.”

“Ever since the 2020 election, you see more and more neo-Nazi’s doing more and more things everywhere. You see the Proud Boys. You want to feel safe at home and like it’s not close, and then you see that and you think, ‘Oh, that’s what’s happening today.’ And, it’s a reality. It’s a reality at home. Everyday, people of my complexion face racism and discrimination, but to see just a hateful organization is just jarring.”

Jarring but not surprising to Julian Beaudion, who has lived in Sioux Falls for almost two decades and owns Swamp Daddy’s Cajun Kitchen and recently finished his tenure as executive director of the South Dakota African-American History Museum.

”Hatred has always been in South Dakota. Hatred has always been in America,” Beaudoin said. “Racism is bred within the cloth with what we call America, with what we call home, and it’s something that we fight against every day.”

And according to these leaders, the fight against bigotry isn’t strong enough from Gov. Kristi Noem, who issued a short social media statement that said, in part, that “Nazis are not welcome here” in South Dakota and that the state rejects all hate.

“I think its shocking that she has not made an in-person statement via her own social media,” Knoff said. ”We live in 2024. It does not take very long to flip your camera around and say, ‘I’m just as shocked as you are. I don’t want this happening in my state.’ I want a real, raw response, not something that’s canned.”

Although the neo-Nazi demonstrators were escorted away from the Capitol and sent away by law enforcement in Deadwood, there are concerns about law enforcement training when it comes to these situations.

Beaudion is a certified law enforcement officer who feels police were not prepared well enough to interact with the hate group. He also thinks those police forces in those cities would not be ready to interact with members of the community the hate group stands against.

“I think knowing the climate of our country right now, more should have been done in preparation to ensure that when these things happen, and I’m not saying if. We know that these things are going to happen. They’re happening across the country. They happened on January 6th. We have folks right here in South Dakota that participated in January 6th in Washington, D.C.”

“Knowing these things are going to happen, knowing that we have people living in our community that feel the way they do, we have to be prepared to battle against the hatred,” Beaudoin said. “We can’t just come out with the statement and say, ‘It has no home,’ if we’re not empowering our people to fight against hatred.”

“I think all of those things are so important when it comes to diffusing those situations, and they have not been equipped with any of that, and I think that’s a failure of our governor.

Knoff took it a step further.

“If a group of 15-25 black men in masks came to the city’s capital or city’s hall, the response would not be the same. It wouldn’t be just ‘disperse and have a great time,’” Knoff said.

“My nephews, my dad, my uncles, cousins, brothers would have been forfeiting their lives for doing such a thing.”

Knoff said she has fielded a bevvy of texts and phone calls over the last three days from people in the Black community asking her what is the NAACP and the Black community is going to do about this, and “what is our way of protecting our people and our community so this doesn’t happen and we don’t feel supported or feel seen by law enforcement, and what will happen to us?”

“I can tell you a lot of people don’t feel safe,” Knoff said. “It’s not a matter of if but probably when. We’re the biggest city, but if it happened in Pierre, and they’re already being vocal about it, why not? We’re having Juneteenth here next weekend. It’s not hard to see that, you know, hate crimes are going to be on the rise.”

From 2010 to 2019, the number of hate crime incidents recorded by law enforcement increased by 10%, from 6,628 reported incidents to 7,314 incidents. New statistics from the FBI for 2022 showed decrease in violent offenses and rise in hate crime incidents, a majority of which targeted Black people. The number of hate crimes reported to police in the nation’s 10 largest cities rose again in 2023, according to preliminary data released on Jan. 5 from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University.

The neo-Nazi marching in two of South Dakota’s higher-profile cities comes ahead of this weekend’s Juneteenth celebration in Sioux Falls. The federal holiday recognizes June 19th, 1865, when the last slaves in America were set free. Knoff said the NAACP is grateful local law enforcement will be on hand.

In a city of over 202,000, just over 13,000 are African-American, almost 7 percent.

Newton says that if you’re white, and stand against hate, and want minorities in the state to feel safe and welcome — go to the Juneteeth festivities and show your support. And, whether you can or can’t do that, to try and get to know your minority neighbors and co-workers. Have conversations.

“South Dakota is a welcoming place,” Newton said. “I do understand, though, that it is often in my experiences that (white people) haven’t met a ‘me’ before, or they haven’t gotten a chance to actually have a conversation, or a good-faith conversation with a person of color or a minority in this state. It’s one of those pieces where it’s easy to stereotype and dehumanize somebody if you don’t know who they are or don’t know them.

”The fact of the matter is, South Dakotans, people of color here, raise their families. They go to work. They pay their taxes. They go to church. They do all these things just like you. If you actually take the time to humanize us and people of color in the state, that might lead to a better understanding and a little less hate.”

Beaudion said neo-Nazi appearances are nothing new to South Dakota, and wouldn’t be in sioux Falls. He brought up a swastika being emblazoned in the cement of a public park. Of KKK fliers passed out to kids “with candy on them.”

“We’ve dealt with all these issues, and typically it’s every two years and it’s no coincidence that they happen right around election time,” Beaudoin said. “My fear is that intimidation will work around the community, and people will not vote. People will not register to vote. People will stop running for office.”

“My encouragement, my hope, is that people will do the opposite. People will start to register in droves, in record numbers, so, when some of these policies do come up, such as House Bill 1076 (a 2024 antisemitism bill/law the NAACP opposed because it did not protect all religions and races), we are better prepared and better equipped to fight against it by making our own policies that actually protect our community.”

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South Dakota

Poll: Johnson, Jackley and Rounds lead in SD GOP primary

Published

3 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Poll: Johnson, Jackley and Rounds lead in SD GOP primary

Alexander Rifaat

Politics and Statehouse Reporter
605-736-4396
alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org

Editor’s note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per copyright law and our republishing policy.

PIERRE, S.D. – With seven weeks until the June 2 primary, U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson is close to avoiding a runoff in the race to secure the GOP nomination for governor, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota.

In the contests for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, state Attorney General Marty Jackley and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds have solid leads over their challengers.

The scientific survey of 500 registered Republicans, conducted April 7-11 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found Johnson leading the four-way contest for governor with 34% of likely GOP primary voters supporting his candidacy.

The other three candidates are effectively tied for second due to the margin of error being plus-or-minus 4.5%. State House Speaker Jon Hansen, of Dell Rapids, has 18% support from GOP voters, and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden both have 17%. Roughly 14% of those surveyed were undecided.

If no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote on the June 2 ballot, a runoff between the top two finishers will take place July 28. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election.

Rhoden’s support drops; Hansen surges

While Johnson, who grew up in Pierre and lives in Mitchell, saw a 6-point increase from the News Watch/Chiesman poll conducted last October, Rhoden’s support fell 10 points.

Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center and USD associate professor in political science, said Rhoden’s association with his predecessor, former Gov. Kristi Noem, could be behind the drop in poll numbers.

“He has aligned himself closely with Noem. They worked closely together, and he continues to champion her and stand by her,” she said. “There’s a potential that has been a side effect.”

Rhoden served as lieutenant governor under Noem and became governor in January 2025 when President Donald Trump made her secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He fired her last month after severe criticism.

Hellwege pointed out the poll found that Johnson even leads in West River, a stronghold for Rhoden, who is from Union Center east of Sturgis.

She said one candidate more than any other has been the main beneficiary of the declining support for the sitting governor.

“Anyone shifting from Rhoden is more likely to shift towards Hansen,” Hellwege said, noting that Hansen is a state lawmaker, like Rhoden was, who plays up his conservative Christian credentials.

Hellwege said in comparing the new poll results with those from last year, a certain pattern can be seen. That includes the surge in support for Hansen and Johnson, a decline in support for Rhoden, a stable level of support for Doeden and a lower number of undecided voters.

“My interpretation is many Rhoden voters in the last poll shifted to Hansen voters and the undecideds went to Johnson,” Hellwege said.

SD governor: Johnson in driver’s seat

Hellwege highlighted the extent to which the math favors Johnson.

“Even if all the undecided voters go to one of those second-place candidates, plus if you factor in the margin of error, they still would barely reach where Johnson is sitting right now,” Hellwege said.

Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters, also believes Johnson is in a comfortable position.

“Johnson is moving into the clear front-runner status,” he said.

“People know him. People like him, and that’s probably why he’s ahead right now. Whether he can hold on to that will depend on what the other campaigns – particularly Hansen’s – are able to do in the coming weeks,” Coker told News Watch, pointing to the poll results that found Johnson has a 47% favorability rating, the highest of any of the candidates.

South Dakota News Watch invests in scientific polls to let elected leaders know how constituents think they’re doing and also survey people’s opinions on important issues. But a good poll isn’t cheap, so if you value these stories, please consider helping cover the cost. Thank you!

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Coker said Hansen has the best chance to challenge Johnson not only because his candidacy has seen the biggest increase in support but also due to not many people knowing him – yet.

“Hansen’s name recognition is only 73%. He’s still got 27% of the voters who don’t know who he is, which I think gives him a much higher ceiling than Doeden and Rhoden,” Coker said. “That tells me Hansen is getting some traction.”

On the flip side, Doeden’s 35% unfavorable rating and high name recognition indicate his support has mostly peaked, Coker said.

“He has a higher negative rating than positive rating, which tells me he’s got a core group behind him, but his growth potential is far more limited, especially since he has 89% name recognition,” Coker said.

The poll was conducted after the four candidates met in the March 31 KELO-TV debate but before the April 13 SDPB and South Dakota News Watch forum.

US House: Jackley has comfortable lead

Since Johnson ran for governor, that opened up South Dakota’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In that contest, Jackley – who is from Sturgis and previously served as U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota – has a comfortable lead toward securing the GOP nomination.

According to the poll, he has 68% support from South Dakota Republican voters surveyed, well ahead of challenger James Bialota Jr., who has 12%, with 20% of respondents undecided.

“This primary is definitely in Jackley’s favor, even if all the undecideds move to Bialota,” Hellwege said.

The winner will face Democrat Nicole “Nikki” Gronli in the November general election.

US Senate: Incumbent Rounds ahead by large margin

Rounds – who’s from Pierre and was South Dakota’s governor from 2003 to 2011 – also enjoys a sizable lead over his challenger.

He received 66% support from GOP voters surveyed, compared to 18% for challenger Justin McNeal, with 16% of respondents undecided.

“The fact that McNeal, who is vastly outspent by Rounds, is able to get up to 18% is commendable. But at the same time, I don’t think there’s any expectation that Rounds will not be able to hold on to that seat,” Hellwege said.

The winner will take on Democrat Julian Beaudion in November.

Favorability poll results for all governor, House and Senate candidates

The News Watch/Chiesman poll also asked Republicans their opinions of the candidates. To see results for each person, click the arrow below and the tab for each section: overall, by gender, age and region where they’re from.

Coming Tuesday

Tuesday’s story will focus on South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center for Democracy poll results on the job performance rating South Dakotans give Gov. Larry Rhoden, Sen. John Thune and other elected officials. The story also includes voter thoughts on Noem’s time as DHS secretary and President Trump’s decision to fire her.

South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.

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South Dakota

FCS Football Recruiting Roundup: South Dakota, Montana State Target 2027 Defensive Standouts

Published

15 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

FCS Football Recruiting Roundup: South Dakota, Montana State Target 2027 Defensive Standouts

Welcome to another edition of the FCS Football Central Recruiting Roundup.

As spring practice winds down, recruits are still continuing to get on campus to visit schools and meet with their coaching staff. I caught up with some of the latest prospects who received an offer from an FCS program after their visit.

Amarie King | 2027 | DB | 5’7″ 140 lbs | Case High School | Racine, WI

King received his latest offer from South Dakota on April 17 after speaking with defensive coordinator Billy Kirch.

“Coach Kirch told me bout the offer, and that conversation went well. He told me a lot about the school, and asked me what my family and parents do. He said that my film was amazing and that he wanted to offer me,” King said.

“My recruitment is going well, although it is a little stressful here and there, but I am really just being patient and trusting the process, and keep working.”

He has visits to South Dakota and Drake coming up. Last season, he finished with 44 tackles, eight pass breakups, and six interceptions for the Eagles.

After a great conversation with coach kirch I’m blessed to I’ve received my first division 1 offer from @SDCoyotesFB @AntonGraham_ @MJ_NFLDraft @CoachBKirch @joshmanchigiah pic.twitter.com/jaxIYac67A
— Amarie King (@Amarieking27) April 17, 2026

Jayden Harris | 2027 | ATH | 6’2″ 170 lbs | Manteca High School | Manteca, CA

Harris picked up his latest offer from Montana State on Friday when he was in Bozeman for the Bobcats’ Junior Day, and meeting with cornerbacks coach Jordan Lee, defensive coordinator Bobby Daly, and head coach Brent Vigen.

“First, it was Coach Lee, then I had meetings with Coach Daly and Coach Vigen, who broke the news while we were talking. They want me to come in and play early. They like my versatility as a defensive back, and that’s why they offered me,” Harris said.

“The visit was cool! The snow was coming down, and the coaches still showed love. Recruiting is going well right now. Most schools that are in touch with me see something in me for sure, especially since I’m a zero-star athlete, so that’s love. I feel like I’m the best DB in California, and my measurements and production speak for themselves.”

He also has offers from Idaho, Washington State, and Sacramento State. He has upcoming visits to Arizona State and New Mexico.

Last season, he finished with 63 tackles, 11 pass breakups, nine interceptions, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pick-sixes for the Buffaloes.

Blessed to receive an offer from Montana State University 🐾 @ballcoachLee @CoachBobbyDaly @CoachSauve @CoachSmith59 @bvigen @BrandonHuffman @Rivals_Recruits @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/ofYdjJKcmK
— Jay Harris (@JaydenOHarris) April 18, 2026
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Maurice “MJ” Harrell | 2026 | DB | 6’1″ 170 lbs | Hutchinson CC | Hutchinson, KS

Harrell picked up his first Division I offer from Houston Christian on April 17 after he spoke with cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Coleman.

“Coach Coleman called and told me he liked what we saw from the videos I sent him, and that he wanted me to be a part of his program,” Harrell said.

Last season, he finished with 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a fumble recovery for the Blue Dragons. Mercyhurst, Division II UTPB, and Missouri Southern are some other schools he has been in contact with.

Blessed To Receive my first d1 offer from Houstan Christian University pic.twitter.com/OBD9ITQZHS
— MauriceHarrell (@M_Harrell19) April 18, 2026

Jadhari Young | 2026 | WR | 6’1″ 200 lbs | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA

Young received his latest offer from Eastern Illinois on April 15 after speaking with wide receivers coach Tino Smith.

“Coach Smith called me, and we had a long and great conversation. He told me he believes in me and that he thinks I can be great under his coaching,” Young said. “My recruitment has been going great since I graduated two weeks ago. A lot of coaches have expressed a lot of interest in me.”

Young also has offers from Sacramento State, Prairie View A&M, and Chicago State. Last season, he hauled in receptions for 559 yards and seven touchdowns for the Mountain Lions. He was named a Golden Coast Conference First Team selection.

He will be taking his official visit to Eastern Illinois on April 24. Gardner-Webb, West Florida, Monmouth, Stony Brook, and UMass are some other schools he is hearing from.

Blessed to receive my 5th D1 offer from Eastern Illinois University
Thank you Coach @coachtinosmith for believing in me💯 pic.twitter.com/yMZjnsfRvK
— Dhari Young “DEBO” (@dharigogetit) April 15, 2026

AJ Moore | 2027 | RB | 5’9″ 200 lbs | College of Dupage | Glen Ellyn, IL

Moore received his first Division I offer from Lindenwood on April 17 after speaking with running backs coach Lane Lawson.

“Coach Lawson called and offered me. He just told me he’d be really excited to have me over and thinks I could be a part of something special with the program they got going over there,” Moore said.

Last season, he finished with 81 carries for 518 yards and five touchdowns, while adding nine receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns for the Chaparrals, who won their fifth consecutive NJCAA Division III national championship. Moore is working on scheduling his official visit to Lindenwood.

#AGTG After a great conversation with @CoachLawsonLU I am blessed to have my first division 1 offer from Lindenwood University @LindenwoodFB @Dupage_Football @JUCOFFrenzy @AllenTrieu @JordanWesty1 pic.twitter.com/DGLjZC4gIA
— AJ Moore (@ajmoore6_) April 17, 2026

Leshem Nyante | 2027 | OT | 6’5″ 265 lbs | Anna High School | Anna, TX

Nyante picked up his latest offer from Texas Rio Grande Valley on April 17 after he spoke with offensive line coach Jeff Bowen.

“Coach Bowen reached out this morning to officially extend the offer. It was a great talk, and he mentioned they really liked my film and how I would fit their system. So we are focused on building that relationship now,” Nyante said.

“I’m really grateful for how my recruiting process is unfolding so far. Things are definitely moving fast with spring ball right around the corner, and it’s been great seeing the increase in interest every week.”

He also has offers from Arkansas State, Division II Midwestern State, and East Central University. Old Dominion, Texas State, UTEP, and New Mexico are some other schools he is hearing from. Nyante will be taking an official visit to Arkansas State in June.

#AGTG After a great conversation with @CoachJeffBowen , I am blessed to receive a D1 offer from @UTRGVFootball !!@8_parr @Coach_Rigg @tylerdedwards33 @Sevier5 @jessedstew @AnnaCoyotesFB @CoachTBush @Perroni247 @SWiltfong_ @CKennedy247 pic.twitter.com/6o9H13baAb
— Leshem (Shem) Nyantee (@leshemnyantee10) April 17, 2026

Matthew Lashley | 2027 | DB | 6’1″ 198 lbs | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA

Lashley received his latest offer from East Texas A&M on April 15 after speaking with safeties coach Luke Jaicks.

“Coach Jaicks called and offered me. He’s a great coach, and I would love to play for him,” Lashley said. “My recruitment is going well; it’s starting to heat up after spring ball.”

He also has an offer from Southern Utah. Last season, he finished with 14 tackles and two interceptions for the Tigers.

Blessed to receive another D1 offer to @Lions_FB! @JacksonSimon25 @nilsonsports pic.twitter.com/X4iLU8VRID
— Matthew Lashley (@MatthewLashley_) April 15, 2026

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