LISTEN Dineh Louise Benally Ethnic Studies

Riley, Choctaw, and Louise Benally, Dineh, at ethnic studies
rally in Tucson on Jan. 10, 2012. Photo Brenda Norrell Censored News

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

TUCSON -- Listen to Louise Benally, Dineh resisting relocation at Big Mountain. Benally joins Mexican American Studies students, and Riley, Choctaw, to speak out against the racism, oppression and imperialism that has led Arizona to forbid ethnic studies. Students speak out on how Mexican American Studies instilled pride in who they are.
The broadcast includes an interview with one of the youths who locked down and was arrested at Salt River Project recently during the ALEC protest in Phoenix. The youths are supporting Navajos protesting the coal-fired power plant Navajo Generating Station, on Navajoland at Page, Ariz. The American Legislative Exchange Council is comprised of corporate profiteers who exploit Indian lands, profiteer from private prisons and the abuse of migrants and coopt Arizona legislators with their cash.
Recorded live by Censored News in Tucson.

Listen to internet radio with Brenda Norrell on Blog Talk Radio

Facebook blocks: Shenandoahs perform in Palestine

This photo of the Shenandoahs in Palestine was blocked by Facebook at 6:26 am this morning, Wed. Jan. 11, 2011. Although Facebook says there is a problem with the jpeg image file, as you can see there is no problem with the photo.
Photo Shenandoahs perform in Palestine: Courtesy Joanne Shenandoah: Joanne and Leah Shenandoah in Manger Square, Bethlehem, Palestine on Dec. 24.
From the Oneida Daily Dispatch
BETHLEHEM, Palestine — Oneida musician Joanne Shenandoah and her daughter Leah were part of an international ensemble which performed at Manger Square in the city of Bethlehem, Palestine on Christmas Eve.
The Shenandoahs sang John Lennon's "Imagine" for the Project Peace on Earth initiative in front of the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus Christ is purported to be born. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world assembled before the edifice maintained by the Roman Catholic, Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches.
The Shenandoah performance was followed by a concert at the new Bethlehem Convention Center on Christmas Day. The Palestinian government recently opened the $30,000,000 facility located next to the "pools of Solomon" in Bethlehem.
Joanne Shenandoah presented a Haudenosaunee flag to Khouloud Daibes, minister of Tourism and Antiquities for the government of Palestine.

Read more: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=447941

Facebook blocks Tucson ethnic studies post

The following post was blocked, as shown in the screen capture above, by Facebook on Wednesday morning, Jan. 11, 2012 at 5:50 am:

Photos of march and rally Tuesday night, as Tucson school board voted to end ethnic studies immediately, as the ruling Nazis in the Arizona state government threatened to withhold millions in education funds.

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/01/ethnic-studies-march-in-warrior-spirit.html

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Ethnic Studies March: In the Warrior Spirit

Riley, Choctaw, with Louise Benally, Navajo.

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Ethnic Studies march and rally: In the spirit of survival and excellence!
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

TUCSON -- Marching and rallying to save the ethnic studies program in Tucson Unified Schools on Tuesday night, students spoke out on the empowerment of those classes and the belief in themselves that ethnic studies instilled in them.
Louise Benally, Navajo from Big Mountain, reflecting on a mural of Apache warriors in Tucson said, "It reminded me of the warriors that were resisting imperialism, this is part of that and it continues today." Benally remembered the migrants who are suffering.
Benally thought of the ancestors who roamed these lands, and the people who come here today, and how they suffer. She remembered the O'odham who are intimidated and assaulted as they cross the so-called border in their own lands.
"They are denying people their own cultures throughout the world. America should respect other cultures. Why are they outlawing all the different cultures of the world? Why is Arizona so fixated on oppressing cultures of people?"
Benally said education must include ethnic studies which includes the knowledge of land, life and cultures. "It all relates to the natural environment. The important things of life are the air, water, earth, the environment and life. They are all interconnected to make life happen."
She said things become out of balance when the importance of the clean air, clean water, the earth and life are not respected and acknowledged.

UPDATE: As the rally in support of ethnic studies was held tonight in Tucson, Tucson Unified Schools District board voted 4 to 1 to comply with the state of Arizona which has outlawed ethnic studies.