Tohono O'odham Nation live: Israeli contractor destroying sacred land for spy towers during pandemic

By Ofelia Rivas
Tohono O'odham Nation
Censored News
June 16, 2020

ALI JEGK, Tohono O'odham Nation -- The integrated fixed towers are under construction with little regard for the community's well being. The water truck is racing through the community using the precious water piped at a very long distance.

The border patrols are racing through the community without regard to residences. There is very little construction protocol taken into consideration, no dust control. I am unaware of presence of any O'odham cultural monitors in our cccommunity while our sacred lands and mountain are being destroyed.

The video shows the truck coming off the mountain at high speed.

Currently, the coronavirus is spreading in Arizona, with one of the highest rates in the nation for new cases. Cases are on the increase on the Tohono O'odham Nation.

These spy towers are being built by the Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, carrying out Apartheid security in Palestine. The contract was granted during the Obama administration and continued under the Trump administration. The contract was approved by the elected Tohono O'odham Nation government which ignored the opposition from traditional O'odham.

Copyright Ofelia Rivas

This integrated fixed tower, spy tower, was constructed by Israel's Elbit Systems at Nogales, Arizona. The towers on the Tohono O'odham Nation will allow Border Patrol agents to stalk O'odham women, children and elderly, by way of cameras on the towers in traditional O'odham communities. The images will be viewed on Border Patrol agents' laptops.

Protester shot during rally to remove Onate statue in Albuquerque

The shooter was arrested and members of the militia, who call themselves the New Mexico Civil Guard, were detained by police. In Albuquerque, after one protester was shot by this man, Steven Baca.

Eyewitnesses identified this man as the shooter. The man, identified on social media as Steven Baca, said during his arrest that he called out that his father worked for the Bernalillo County Sheriff office.  Heavily armed New Mexico Civil Guard members were detained by police at the scene. -- Censored News

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Albuquerque -- One man was arrested after shooting a protester at a gathering at the statue of the genocidal Conquistador Onate in Albuquerque on Monday. The injured man,  protesting the genocidal Onate Statue, is listed in critical but stable condition. Heavily armed vigilantes of the New Mexico Civil Guard were detained by police and the shooter arrested.

Steven Ray Baca, 32, was arrested and charged with use of a firearm and aggravated battery.

A second statue of Onate in northern New Mexico was removed peacefully on Monday.

In Albuquerque, Ahtza Dawn Chavez, executive director of the NAVA Education Project, said, "We want to thank those who showed up to support the peaceful prayer gathering at Tiguex park earlier this evening. This prayer gathering was meant to garner support to remove the statue of someone who brought so much violence to many of our Pueblo people.

Acoma Pueblo Maurus Chino: Onate, the Conquistador Butcher

Photos: In Alcalde, N.M., county authorities removed the bronze statue of Juan de Oñate in northern New Mexico amid a new wave of criticism of the memorial as an affront to indigenous people and an obstacle to greater racial harmony. A forklift pried the massive bronze statue of Oñate from a concrete pedestal to the sound of cheers and ululations from bystanders. A demonstration also was planned in Albuquerque at another bronze Oñate likeness. KOAT News. Video by Ryan Begay

Acoma Pueblo Maurus Chino: Onate, the Conquistador Butcher

With the removal of the Onate statue today, Censored News re-publishes today the words of Maurus Chino

Maurus Chino, Acoma Pueblo, said, "We equate the conquistador Juan de Onate and his soldiers with Hitler and the Nazis. Both practiced genocide. The Spanish land grant system is nothing but double-speak for the theft of native lands. These lands that were so freely 'granted' are Indian lands," Chino said in 2006. Objecting to a celebration for Onate, he said, "We are offended by these 'celebrations.' Would decent people sit by and do nothing if we had a parade of Nazis as part of an event of 'cultural heritage?'" 

"In January 1599, a larger force was sent to Acoma, where an epic battle ensued lasting three days and by historical accounts of the Spanish themselves, the ended with over 800 hundred men, women, and children being butchered. Men over the age of 25 were sentenced to have one-foot cut and 25 years of slavery. Males between the ages of 12 and 25 were likewise given 25 years of slavery. Young girls between the ages of 12 and 25 were given 25 years of slavery. 60 young girls were sent to priests in Mexico, never to return to Acoma."

by Maurus Chino, Acoma Pueblo

Statement March 19, 2011, opposing rally commemorating Iraqi War, Albuquerque
Statement Huaba Hanu Listening Conference May 7, 2005  
Censored News

Moment of silence for the brave ones alive and dead who stand and stood for the People in the face of oppression throughout the world

Guwaatsi! Gai d’awa hauba? Wa shinum’e Kaaimaisiwa d’aagashi, D’yaami Hanu suda. Uusraatra Hanu waashdi suda etyu. Ak’ume suda.

Greetings! Are you all well? My Acoma name is Kaaimaisiwa. My American name is Maurus Chino. I belong to the Eagle Clan, and am a child of the Sun Clan. I belong to the Acoma People.

Acoma, a beautiful and wondrous place to the west of here, is for us the center of the universe. I may live in other places, as I do now, here in Albuquerque, but Ak’u, beloved Ak’u is a strong force that draws those of us who were born for Acoma and those who will be born for Acoma, always back to its center.

Four Directions Prayer Walk: Maxton, North Carolina, June 20, 2020