Sen. Warren responds to Secretary Hegseth on Wounded Knee medals

Responding to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth saying his department would not rescind medals awarded to soldiers who participated in the Wounded Knee massacre, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she would continue to advocate for change through legislation.

After the Wounded Knee massacre in 1890 that left hundreds of Lakota people dead, 19 solders received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award for valor. Hegseth said in a video posted to social media Thursday evening, "we're making it clear they deserve those medals. This decision is now final."

In May, Warren helped reintroduce legislation, Remove the Stain Act , that would rescind the medals and remove the soldiers' names from the military's Medal of Honor Roll.

"We cannot be a country that celebrates and rewards horrifying acts of violence," Warren said in a statement Friday. "With this announcement, Secretary Hegseth is valorizing people who committed a massacre."

Warren's legislation was referred to the Committee on Armed Services in May.

more news from Western Massachusetts

• SJC will hear arguments in case of man convicted of 2005 Deerfield murder

• State adds to parkland in Deerfield

• Metal detectors, bag checks coming to Holyoke High after reported threats

• Why not tap tomorrow's teachers from today's high school classrooms? (The Republican Editorials)

• Study: Mass. behavioral health sector lacking diversity

Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .