Rally against racism Oklahoma Capitol Oct. 11, 2012

Society to Preserve Indigenous Rights and Indigenous Treaties

S.P.I.R.I.T.

Press Release October 8, 2012

PEOPLE UNITED AGAINST RACISM RALLY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

OKLAHOMA STATE CAPITOL, SOUTH PLAZA– 9 AM TO 11 AM

The Society to Preserve Indigenous Rights and Indigenous Treaties (S.P.I.R.I.T.)responds to racial profiling and injustice to people of color in Oklahoma. In response to the Kay County Sheriff's Department's desecration of a sacred eagle staff and their violation of a Mohawk citizen's civil and human rights, S.P.I.R.I.T. has confirmed a meeting with representatives of the Governor's Office to discuss Racial Profiling of Indigenous People in Oklahoma. The Peace & Dignity Journeys' 2012 were our esteemed guests in Oklahoma and were stopped by police three times in four days for "looking suspicious". This is indicative of the racism people of color encounter in Oklahoma on a regular basis. We call upon everyone to stand together with voices united to show that we are not going to let this racism continue without pointing it out and attempting to make change.

“Would the police have stopped a runner carrying an Olympic torch?” asks David Hill (Choctaw), “or how about that guy that ran along the interstate carrying a cross, why wasn’t he harassed?” “Making a Native American put a sacred eagle staff on the ground is akin to pouring holy water out on unhallowed ground” says Brenda Golden. Oklahoma ranks 2^nd in the nation for having the most Native American residents, this type insensitivity is uncalled for and was totally based on bias. “With 7 native nations in and around Kay County for over 100 years, surely the local law enforcement agencies can be expected to have some knowledge of native culture. Our traditions and religion are equally revered and our sacred objects esteemed as any religion,” says Dwain Camp, Ponca Elder.

The delegates that will meet with the representative of the Governor's office are: Marilyn Yarbrough, Brenda Golden, Jeri Ligett, David Narcomey, Stella Dyer Long, Tafv Tahdinooappiah. Jeffrey Cantmell of the Assistant General Counsel for Governor Mary Fallin and the Director of Cultural Affairs for Governor Mary Fallin will meet with S.P.I.R.I.T. delegates. S.P.I.R.I.T. attempted numerous times to contact the Tribal Liaison to the Oklahoma State Governor, Kay Hensley, without success, e-mails and phone messages were left unanswered.

S.P.I.R.I.T. hopes to use this opportunity to increase awareness of the racism prevalent in the law enforcement and justice systems in Oklahoma. Racial profiling and inequality of treatment by police and law enforcement is a wide spread problem for people of color in Oklahoma. S.P.I.R.I.T. has invited the Oklahoma State Chapter of the NAACP, the Oklahoma City Chapter of the NAACP, LULAC and the Latino Community Development Agency to support us in making our concerns known. We call upon members of the community to join us in bringing justice to the Peace & Dignity Journeys 2012!

For more information contact Brenda Golden at 405-471-7610. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OKspirit and the event at http://www.facebook.com/events/359902220758177/

###

Brenda Golden

Dennis Banks: Palestinian Suffering Under U.S.-Backed Occupation Recalls Plight of Native Americans

Democracy Now! Dennis Banks: Palestinian Suffering Under U.S.-Backed Occupation Recalls Plight of Native Americans

Leonard Peltier: Columbus mass murderer of Indigenous Peoples

Leonard Peltier's letter on Columbus Day

By Leonard Peltier
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

French translation, thank you Christine Prat!
http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=991

Greetings my relatives and friends, supporters!
I know I say this same line all the time but in reality you all are my relatives and I appreciate you. I cannot say that enough. Some of our people, as well as ourselves have decided to call today Indigenous Day instead of Columbus Day and it makes me really think about how many People who still celebrate Columbus, a cruel, mass murderer who on his last trip to the Americas, as I have read, was arrested by his own people for being too cruel. When you consider those kinds of cruelty against our People and his status, it makes you wonder to what level he had taken his cruelty. In all of this historical knowledge that is available people still want to celebrate and hold in high esteem this murderer.
If we were to celebrate Hitler Day, or Mussolini Day, or some other murderer and initiator of violence and genocide, there would be widespread condemnation. It would be like celebrating Bush Day in Iraq. It’s kind of sad to say that even mentioning Columbus in my comments gives him more recognition that he should have. So I agree wholeheartedly with all of you out there that have chosen to call this Indigenous Day. If I weren’t Native American or as some of have come to say – Indigenous, I would still love our ways and cling to our ways and cherish our ways. I see our ways as the way to the future, for the world. Where as I and others have said over and over, and our People before us, this earth is our Mother. This earth is life. And anything you take from the earth creates a debt that is to be paid back at some time in the future by someone.
In speaking of our ways I can’t help but think of times that our sweat lodge that I feel that we could be anywhere, that we are with the Indigenous People, in that time, those moments in our prayers and in our hearts there is no distance between us. I am no longer in a prison in Florida. I can be on the prairie in South Dakota or in a lodge in British Columbia or in a lodge in South America. Or even with some of my children in a family lodge. We all need to be thankful for what we have but we cannot afford to forget what has been taken from us. There is no amount of freedom that I could personally receive that would be restitution enough for what they have taken from me. But if in some way my incarceration and sacrifices for our People who came before me and throughout our Indigenous history serves as a pathway to a brighter future, a healthier earth, and for life of all mankind; if it would bring us together to be of one mind in protecting the future of our People, our children, and all the future generations upon the earth, then it will have been well worth it.
Indigenous Day should become a way of life that embraces all that promotes life and not just a few days out of the year. If you’re standing or sitting or whatever with whoever lives around you, give your loved ones a hug for me. Guard your freedom zealously. Rescue Mother Earth where you can. Sweat often and know that this common man, Leonard Peltier, will always be with you in the struggle, one way or another.
May the Great Spirit bless you with the things you need and enough to share.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Osceola, Geronimo, Chief Seattle and all those many others who stood for what was right and tried to right what was wrong.
Mitakuye Oyasin.
Leonard Peltier

Russell Tribunal on Palestine describes world freeing itself of deception

Dennis Banks with Alice Walker, Cynthia McKinney, Angela Davis,
and other jurors at the closing of the Russell Tribunal on
Palestine on Sunday,  broadcast live online.
Screen capture Censored News.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

NEW YORK -- The Russell Tribunal on Palestine wasn't just about Palestine. It was about a world freeing itself of Apartheid, Genocide and deception -- from South Africa and Gaza, to the US and the United Nations.

The jurors on the Russell Tribunal on Palestine made powerful points during questions to speakers. Among those jurors were American Indian Movement cofounder Dennis Banks, Angela Davis formerly with the Black Panthers, outspoken global activist Cynthia McKinney, author Alice Walker and Ireland Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire.

Maguire, of Ireland, described how professors in the United States tell her that they are afraid of the US government. She also pushed the media to tell the truth, as she spoke out for Wikileaks Julian Assange and Bradley Manning.

Jurors, representing some of the most powerful movements in the world, and the speakers described a world weary of the self-perceived control and domination by the United States and Israel. They told how the United Nations is controlled by the United States.

Dennis Banks spoke of genocide. Unfortunately, Lakota Russell Means, who has been battling cancer, was ill and unable to attend to deliver his statement on 'Sociocide of the Native Americans.'

As the riveting testimony was being delivered on the second day of the Tribunal on Sunday, Codepink was marching against US drones in Pakistan, a flotilla was sailing for Gaza, treesitters in Texas continued their blockade of the Keystone XL tarsands pipeline, United Native Americans protested against Columbus Day in San Francisco, and Native American climate heroes were honored in Washington.

On Monday, the Tribunal will issue its statement.

Check back for updates.

Watch videos on livestream
http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en/sessions/future-sessions/videos/new-york-sessiom-live-stream



Democracy Now! Dennis Banks: Palestinian Suffering Under U.S.-Backed Occupation Recalls Plight of Native Americans

fstv2 on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free