Lehman Brightman, Lakota, founder of United Native Americans, on the
Longest Walk in 1978 with his son Lakota Gall Brightman
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
English/Dutch
Dutch translation by Alice Holemans/NAIS at:
http://www.denaisgazet.be/nieuws/native-lives-matter-man-veroordeelt-voor-de-moord-op-lakota-gall-brightman
The family of Lakota Gall Brightman said Native Lives do Matter, and so does the life of their son, brother and father Lakota Gall Brightman.
"He is remembered as a gentle and kind hearted human being who wanted to help others and was a beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, father, friend and hero," the Brightman family said.
"There will be no more birthday parties, backyard gatherings, holiday celebrations or other family activities to share. The laughter, hugs, guidance/advice, sense of security and those opportunities to say, 'I love you' are forever gone. Our family is forever 'broken.'"
The Jury found Mark Anthony Nelson guilty of murder first degree murder and of knife enhancement on May 25, 2016, for the murder of Lakota Gall Brightman on July 3rd, 2015. The sentencing will be on July 29th, 2016 at 9 am.
Mark Nelson, 50, was arrested for the stabbing death of the son of Lehman Brightman, founder of United Native Americans and a longtime Contra Costa College professor.
Lakota Brightman's brother Quanah Parker Brightman said Lakota Brightman served the U.S. Army as a medic in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008.
"The thing that's so painful is that he was murdered in cold blood, and here he is, somebody who fought for and served his country and what's it been, four days?" Quanah Brightman told Bay Area News, before the announcement of Nelson's arrest.
Their father Lehman Brightman fought for Native American rights in the 1960s and 1970s, during the Occupation of Alcatraz Island and helped lead the Longest Walk in 1978, a spiritual walk from San Francisco to Washington D.C., which resulted in widespread changes in laws in the United States.
Brightman's death came only four months after his brother, Lehman Brightman III, was found dead on train tracks in Richmond.
"I've been stabbed in the heart twice this year," his brother Quanah Brightman said. "My father is a hero, and my brother is a hero. It's been a real brutal year for my family."
Lakota Gall Brightman's family said, "We are Asking For Solidarity in Helping Our Win Justice for Our Beloved Family Member, Lakota Gall Brightman's Murderer (Mark Anthony Nelson: Case Number 5-151356-3) Be Sentenced to Live in Prison."
Please Take a Moment of Your Time to Write a Letter to the Honorable Judge Laurel S. Brady in Department 31 ASAP and to Show up to the Sentencing on Friday July 29th, 2016 at 8:30AM.
A press confence will be held after sentencing in front of Superior Court of California County of Contra County
A.F. Bray Courthouse
1020 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553
#PreSentenceImpactStatement
#Template
Superior Court of California County of Contra County
A.F. Bray Courthouse/Court Annex
1020 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Case Number 5-151356-3
My name is , , , , ,
I am the (Family Member/Friend of Victim).
On July 3rd, 2015, Lakota Gall Brightman, was murdered by the defendant. The facts of the case were proven beyond a reasonable doubt and your verdict was rendered guilty!
Words cannot express the pain and anguish our family and friends have endured since Lakota Gall Brightman's murder. The defendant decision to take the life of a human being with no regard for the effects it has had on Lakota Gall Brightman Friends and Family is unimaginable.
The loss of Lakota Gall Brightman is beyond words. Lakota Gall Brightman was born on December 25th 1969 in Rapid City, South Dakota to parents Lehman and Trudy Brightman. He was the second of three children. Lakota attended Delmar Elementary School, Portola Junior High School, and graduated from El Cerrito High School in 1988. His earlier years were spent advocating for Native American Rights along with his family and the Organization founded by his father Lehman and carried on by his brother Quanah, United Native Americans. United Native Americans was and are still very active in Native american rights and the promotion of progress and general welfare of Native Americans. Specialist Lakota Gall Brightman served 6 years in the California Army National Guard, 235th Engineer Company (Sapper) as an Army Field Medic from August 11, 2007 to his date of separation on August 10th, 2013. Lakota was ordered into active service in 2007 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan.He is remembered as a gentle and kind hearted human being who wanted to help others and was a beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, father, friend and hero. He is preceded in death by his mother Trudy Brightman and his older brother Lehman Brightman III. Lakota is survived by his Daughters, Phoebe (23) and Star (13) Brightman his brother Quanah Parker Brightman, father Chief Lehman L. Brightman, aunts Nancy and Lorelie Oldlodge and uncles, Anthony David Clairmont and Donald Oldlodge. Taken too soon, Lakota is warmly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
There will be no more birthday parties, backyard gatherings, holiday celebrations or other family activities to share. The laughter, hugs, guidance/advice, sense of security and those opportunities to say, “I love you” are forever gone. Our family is forever “broken”.
To say the least, the financial affect on the family has also been devastating.
Compassion is a word commonly used for and by defendants. However, I ask, how much compassion the defendant considered when the decision was made to murder Lakota Gall Brightman?
It is the request of the family that the maximum penalty for the crime for which the defendant was convicted be imposed. On behalf of the family of Lakota Gall Brightman, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude for allowing this opportunity of expression.
Quanah Parker Brightman
Executive Director of
United Native Americans
qbrightman75@hotmail.com
(510) 672-7187
http://
#NativeLivesMatter
.
Video before the trial:
1 comment:
How tragic and beyond sad. I come from Big Mountain and many know the story and history of this once great movement, but today, we are nearly defeated by the U.S. and its corporate Indian agencies. Lehman Brightman among the few TRUE leaders of the 1970s has inspired me when I was an older teenager, and I thought of him as I read this sad story. A different history perhaps leading back to "relocation," then to the urbanization of native families and today, its descendants. I think of Uncle Lehman, once a great orator, awakening many native minds and only to be forgotten or discredited. I wish Natives can honour true, past great leaders, their sacrifices, honour them more than how Natives take so much pride in the militarism! Instead honour such leaders like you are giving them an eagle tail feather and perhaps, their families can be protected! I wish still that I can save my country, Big Mountain, and SO THAT many native relatives who wish to abandon the cities can come out here and build themselves a wikiup, tilt the fertile soil, raise some sheep, and in resistance, rebuilt some identity. But still I know don't what is best for all humans, be homeless on our threatens lands or be homeless in some foreign place. Tunkasila, have pity. Aho, Mitakuye Oyasin.
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