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| Raymond Mattia, Sr., Tohono O'odham, Photo courtesy Ophelia Rivas |
U.S. Justice Department Complaint Filed for the Murder of Raymond Mattia, Tohono O'odham, by U.S. Border Patrol and Tribal Police
Civil Rights Complaint filed by Ophelia Rivas, O'odham Voice Against the Wall, and Signees
Ophelia Rivas
4oodhamrights@gmail.com
November 28,2024
Press Release
In honor of all fallen Earth Warriors, Defenders of the Land, Water, Sky and Sacred Fire, from the original O'odham lands.
O'odham VOICE Against the WALL Honors, Raymond Mattia Sr.
A complaint has been filed on November 7, 2024 with the Civil Rights Section of the United States Department of Justice seeking justice for violation of Mr. Raymond Mattia Sr. civil and constitutional rights.
The unjust decisions made thus far are a blatant cover-up of biased processes and laws pertaining to American Indians.
We strongly urge immediate compliance with the Interagency Memorandum of Agreement on December 1, 2022, regarding criminal investigations on Indian Country in the homicide of Raymond Mattia Sr.
The Interagency MOU press release states, "Department of Justice is committed to working with the Department of Interior and the FBI is committed to ongoing and continued collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs,' said FBI Director Christopher Wray" on December 2, 2022.
November 28,2024
Press Release
In honor of all fallen Earth Warriors, Defenders of the Land, Water, Sky and Sacred Fire, from the original O'odham lands.
O'odham VOICE Against the WALL Honors, Raymond Mattia Sr.
A complaint has been filed on November 7, 2024 with the Civil Rights Section of the United States Department of Justice seeking justice for violation of Mr. Raymond Mattia Sr. civil and constitutional rights.
The unjust decisions made thus far are a blatant cover-up of biased processes and laws pertaining to American Indians.
We strongly urge immediate compliance with the Interagency Memorandum of Agreement on December 1, 2022, regarding criminal investigations on Indian Country in the homicide of Raymond Mattia Sr.
The Interagency MOU press release states, "Department of Justice is committed to working with the Department of Interior and the FBI is committed to ongoing and continued collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs,' said FBI Director Christopher Wray" on December 2, 2022.
The Arizona prosecutor ruled there was a "just cause" of 38 shots fired and 11 bullets striking a peaceful unarmed American Indian man.
Raymond Mattia Sr. had called tribal police for assistance, undocumented persons had entered his home demanding the use of his cellphone. Ray stepped out of his one-room home doorway as shown on the Homeland Security border patrol body cameras and complied to the demands of over 10 border patrols and 1 tribal police.
Ray was shot, and as he lay dying he was struck by 9 bullets, 2 shot from behind, and the border patrol threatened to shoot him again if he didn't comply and roll over. The border patrol then proceeded to break his arm and bash in his face calling it an "imminent danger."
According to Zach Stoebe, public affairs with the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, the homicide of Raymond Mattia Sr. is, "a case that does not rise to the level of a federal criminal civil rights violation or a criminal violation in Arizona law." (USA Today, Oct. 16, 2023)
We call for justice for an American Indian man, Raymond Mattia Sr., a human, an O'odham, a member of the federally-recognized Tohono O'odham Nation. Ray is a father, a brother, a hereditary ceremony leader, a community councilman and a friend with a Right to Live and Exist.
This is the legacy of the United States of America regarding the American Indian.
Truth Day November 28, 2024
Copyright O'odham Voice Against the Wall
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