Four elderly Kickapoo women celebrated on Friday after a tribal court dismissed charges against them for their protest and takeover of an administrative building.

Auchee Wahpepah, Juanita Prado, Valentina Jimenez and Glenda Deer occupied the building from December 19, 2003, through their arrest on January 3, 2004. They were protesting the tribe's former chairman.

Tony Salazar is now out of office and the new leadership of Marlon Frye asked for the charges to be dismissed altogether. The women said they were exercising their right to free speech.

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Tribal judge dismisses charges against women in protest case (The Oklahoman 11/18)
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