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| Standing Rock Water Protectors |
Oglala to Standing Rock -- COINTELPRO and TigerSwan Tactics are the same: Infiltrators, Rumors and Destruction of Sacred
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| Jean Roach and Lenny Foster AIM West 2017 Photo Karen Wright |
Article by Brenda Norrell
Audio by Govinda, Spirit Resistance Radio
Censored News
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Jean Roach, Lakota from Cheyenne River Sioux Nation, representing the offices of Leonard Peltier, described the United States ongoing genocidal war against Native Americans.
The COINTELPRO tactics used at Oglala, South Dakota, resulting in the prison sentence of Leonard Peltier, were the same tactics used by TigerSwan at Standing Rock.
These tactics targeting Native Americans continue to resulting in large numbers of political prisoners.
"I've been friends with Leonard for many years. Me and my brother were survivors of the Oglala fire fight," Jean said during the AIM West Annual Conference, held here Nov. 20 -- 21.
Pointing out the long genocidal history of the United States, she said, "The water protectors are political prisoners. Way back in the 1800s, we have prisoners of war. We have the Dakota 38."
"What happened to the water protectors, what happened to the American Indian Movement, specifically in Oglala, South Dakota, show the same tactics being used," she said.
Jean described the tactics of infiltrators, rumors and the desecration of the sacred.
"We have infiltrators coming into our movements."
What happened during the Oglala firefight, was the same as what happened in Standing Rock. "They sent people in to disrupt."
Jean said sometimes people stand back a little when they talk about Leonard Peltier, but the attacks were the same at Oglala as at Standing Rock. During the 1970s, Lakotas were protecting the elders and the sacred at Oglala.
In both cases, there were people who started a lot of rumors.
At Oglala, they attacked a spiritual camp. The people there were armed to defend the elders, who were being shot when they prayed in their own way. They were being killed, shot, ran over, Jean said of Oglala and surrounding communities on Pine Ridge.
When Oglala was attacked by the FBI, "They kicked in our sweatlodge."
In Oglala, they abused the spiritual items, the same way they did at Standing Rock.
It was the same when water protectors camped at Standing Rock defended the sacred, and the precious water of the Missouri River.
Morton County "peed on" sacred items.
"We are dealing with this colonization, this genocidal practice that has been going on."
Jean described how FBI misconduct and a racist judge in South Dakota led to the conviction of Leonard Peltier after the Oglala fire fight.
"They set up Peltier."
"They took Myrtle Poor Bear to Canada to tell lies, who does that?" she asked.
The U.S. government falsified witnesses and changed the charges against Leonard Peltier.
They couldn't charge all those under 18 at Oglala, but they picked on the adults, she said.
Now, in the Dakotas, racist judges continue to imprison the defenders of the sacred.
"It is so ironic that we are back in court where Leonard was convicted with this biased and racist judge," Jean said.
Jean pointed out that Dino Butler and Rob Robideux were acquitted on these charges that Leonard Peltier was convicted on. In the case of Butler and Robideux, the court found they acted in self defense because they were attacked at Oglala.
Yet, Leonard Peltier was convicted on the charges in the court of a racist judge in South Dakota.
"He would just spin around in his chair when anything was mentioned about FBI misconduct," she said of the Peltier trial.
"Right now we are facing the same system."
The COINTELPRO practices used against them in Oglala were continued by TigerSwan in Standing Rock. Both were used to "attack us for prayer."
"Look how strong our prayers are," she said, pointing out the power of prayer and non-violent direct action.Understanding this war is part of the struggle, she said
Jean said Leonard has just had major surgery. "Leonard, needs some support. Where is everybody""
"I don't want people to forget we have prisoners in this genocidal war."
She urged people to send postcards to Leonard.
"I don't want him to die in prison. We all need to act."
During his introduction, Tony Gonzales, AIM West coordinator, said all people are now feeling what Indians have always felt. We are all now in that Spiritual Movement, he said.
More on Leonard Peltier https://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/home/faq/
Article copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News, may not be republished without permission, or used for revenues or commercial purpose.
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