Protest march as court hearings held in gang killing

Friday, Sept. 4, 1998 | 2:36 a.m.

The protestors included Dennis Banks, one of the founders of the American Indian Movement, who said he was asked to come by families of Washoe Tribe members charged in the beating death of Sammy Resendez.

Banks said he's concerned about any violations of the rights of those arrested. He said there's no justification for the killing, but authorities might have been able to intervene earlier, before Resendez was killed.

The Justice Court preliminary hearing, continued until Sept. 18, was scheduled for nine defendants. However, several others could be added depending on results of a sheriff's investigation.

Resendez, 25, one of the founders of a Hispanic gang known as the Eastside Tokers, died of massive head injuries.

He was attacked after a young woman at a motel room party was knocked to the ground by a member of the Tokers,. She left to get help, and returned to a motel with a dozen or more Washoes.

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