The media is using an out-dated photo that is not related to the current 'No Trespass' notice to border wall contractors, and it is misleading.
By Ofelia Rivas and Brenda Norrell, Censored News, 12, August 2026
Ophelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham, said today that the photos of the border protest by O'odham in Mexico were taken nine years ago. The media's use now is misleading and shows disrespect for O'odham Elders.
"I found the flyer/ poster dated March 25, 2017 when the Traditional O'odham Leaders of O'odham in Mexico held the border peaceful protest," Ofelia said.
"The tribal government of the U.S. sent tribal police to stop supporters at Sells at the Shell station. They were threatening them with arrest should they enter the reservation, meaning if they exit the state road highway 86."
The reporters and photographers at the protest arrived at the border from the south side, on O'odham lands in Sonora, Mexico.
"The reporters present at the event all had accompanied the O'odham in Mexico delegation from all the communities represented by their flags flown at the event," Ofelia said.
"Some of these Elder traditional leaders have passed on and it very disrespectful to use their image to report on border issues. The border issues have been reported to the United Nations by the Traditional O'odham Leaders and Ceremony Leaders and the O'odham."
The tribal government in the U.S. has ignored O'odham in Mexico.
"They have been seeking support from the tribal government with Elders traditional leaders speaking in O'odham language, but ignored and this resulted in loss of communities and sacred places such as burial places and other places used for healing," Ophelia said today.
Ophelia's words are a reminder that many reporters rarely, if ever, go to the Tohono O'odham Nation. Their coverage is usually copy and paste, re-writes, press releases or phone calls.
This photo is used in a misleading way in articles at Mother Jones and elsewhere currently.
The photo is not related to the current 'No Trespass" and its use is misleading. In fact, the tribal government sent tribal police who stopped supporters on their way to the border protest in 20717 and threatened them with arrest if they joined the peaceful protest of O'odham in Mexico at the border.
Tribal Government Went to Extremes
The Tohono O'odham Nation government went to extremes to prevent supporters from joining the protest of the proposed border wall in 2017. When supporters were on their way, they were stopped by tribal police and federal officers at the state highway at the tribe's northern tribal borders. Supporters were served with this notice and threatened with arrest. The notice threatens criminal and civil penalties if they enter, forbids photography and video-taping, and states their vehicles will be seized if left unattended.
%20(1).jpg)
Read the details and view the tribal police order at Censored News, in 2017.
Copyright Ofelia Rivas. May not be used without written permission.
No comments:
Post a Comment