Lakota action outside White House Tribal Nations Conference: For the children

'Our children are not yours to take'

Wednesday, Nov. 13, outside Interior Building,
where the White House Tribal Leaders Conference is being held

By Lakota Peoples Law Project

Censored News

Dutch translation NAIS

Tribal Chairmen of the Great Sioux Nation, Lakota women leaders, and the Lakota Peoples Law Project will hold a press conference next Tuesday, November 12, at the Washington Plaza Hotel at 10 Thomas Circle, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in the National Hall. 

Lakota leaders will announce their progress in pressing for a Department of Justice investigation of South Dakota’s cover up of the Mette scandal -- a particularly egregious case involving the sexual, physical and psychological abuse of Native children in foster care over a ten year period. 

Paiute Chairman walks with Longest Walk 4 Salinas, Utah Nov. 10, 2013

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Photos by Western Shoshone Long Walker Carl 'Bad Bear' Sampson, Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz, Nov. 10, 2013. Thanks for sharing with Censored News!

By Brenda Norrell

Photos by Bad Bear Sampson

Censored News

RICHFIELD, Utah -- Koosharem Paiute Chairmen Elliott Yazzie walked with the Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz today, as the walkers continued their walk across American to reaffirm Indigenous sovereignty and Indigenous rights.

Sharon Heta, Maori long walker, walking with her family, thanked Elliott Yazzie of Koosharem Band of Paiute in Richfield, Utah, for walking with them in prayer today. Sharon Heta thanked Chairman Yazzie "for walking and supporting the walk on this beautiful day." 

Sharon thanked their hosts in Richfield, Utah, their current stay place. "The Longest Walk 4: Return to Alcatraz extends appreciation and gratefulness to Sophie Addison and Elliot Yazzie, the tribal Chairperson of the Koosharem Band of Paiutes here in Richfield, Utah for hosting the walk. We are so thankful your hospitality and the community potluck that was provided for us all."

Sophie Addison's daughter Kenzie, Navajo, joined the Longest Walk 2 when it walked through Utah in 2008. Kenzie was 17-years-old at the time.

www.returntoalcatraz.com

Anonymous takes on Telegraph over mask rumor

An open letter to the media, by Anonymous:
http://pastebin.com/sK6Zi3EM

Following the Million Mask March organized by Anonymous, the U.K. based news website The Telegraph published an article titled, “Anonymous have been exposed as hypocrites. Watch them try to wiggle their way out of it.” This smear refers to the well-known fact that Warner Bros. owns the rights to our mask, profits from its sale, and that the masks themselves are produced in developing nations. 

According to the article, authored by New Statesman staffer Martha Gill, the conditions in a Brazil factory that produces Guy Fawkes masks are “unpleasant” for the workers. Gill doesn’t say how she knows the conditions are unpleasant, just that they are. 

In her article, she doesn’t claim to have spoken with the workers and she doesn’t provide the name of the factory in which they’re manufactured. On Twitter Gill asks, “So those V for Vendetta masks are made in sweatshops. Does this matter?” Later when someone challenges her on the issue, she says, “That’s the word,” essentially admitting her Telegraph article was based on a rumor. 

(Screen shot of Martha Gill on Twitter: http://imgur.com/OXVJv7j) 

Gill had previously complained that it was difficult to reach Anonymous online. Following the publication of her article, we sent her private message, which read,  “Did you take the time to speak to any of the workers at the Condal Masks Factory before writing their working conditions were unpleasant? Or the widow who owns the factory to ask how her employees are treated?” 

After more than 24 hours without a response, it was clear Martha Gill wasn’t interested in speaking to Anonymous at all. 

The truth is, Gill based her article on a photograph taken by Getty photographer Buda Mendes at the Condal Masks Factory in São Goncalo. This factory is actually a 55-year-old family-owned workshop, where artists produced an estimated 200,000 masks yearly. Most of them are designed by Catalan artist Sergi Arbusa y Amoros and are sold for the annual Carnival in Brazil, which is attended by more than 3 million people in Rio de Janeiro every year.

To be fair, many other people on Twitter and in the news have made this baseless accusation about Condal. Frankly, it’s sad that a photograph of dark-skinned people at work is immediately associated with forced labor. 

We haven’t purchased any Getty images, but here are a few of Martha Gill’s “sweatshop” that you can buy if you’re interested in doing a report on hardworking Brazilian artists. 

* http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/spanish-olga-gibert-owner-of-condal-carnival-masks-factory-news-photo/138155478

* http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/an-employee-works-on-masks-of-brazilian-football-star-news-photo/159169927

* http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/marli-torres-makes-a-mask-at-condal-carnival-masks-factory-news-photo/138155544

Personally, we think the owner, Olga Gibert, should look into filing a lawsuit against The Telegraph for this defamation. It would also seem appropriate for the Guardian, The Telegraph and the New Statesman to go through all of the articles Martha Gill has filed and examine them for disinformation—they may have another Jayson Blair on their hands.

Regardless of Gill’s deceit, the issue of Warner Bros. does remain, however. There is no denying that by purchasing a Guy Fawkes mask, consumers are contributing to the pockets of this Hollywood studio. Warner Bros. in turn lobbies for legislation, such as SOPA, that would undoubtedly censor the free speech of online users and irreparably damage the integrity of the Internet. This is not a fact that Anonymous has tried to obscure from the public.

In fact, the day before the Million Mask March, YourAnonNews tweeted that it did not recommend people purchase the mask, then stated, “Wear anything you want to #MillionMaskMarch, including Guy Fawkes. We just want people to be conscious about their consumer choices.” 

These messages to the public were not included in the Telegraph article.

The fact of the matter is, there are inherent consequences with any consumer purchase. For instance, Foxconn, a large contract manufacturer in China, has been described by many as a labor camp. They’ve also manufactured products for tech giants such as Apple, Dell, Sony, and Hewlett-Packard. Since 2010, at least 17 deaths occurred when employees committed suicide by jumping from the roof of the building. To use a phrase from Martha Gill’s article, these are certainly “unpleasant conditions.” 

For the purposes of this article, we’re going to make two assumptions. One, at least some of the writers at the Telegraph own products sold by Apple, Dell or Sony. Two, if we asked any of these writers if they were in favor of sweatshops, they would tell us they weren’t. By Martha Gill’s logic, instantly, everyone that works at The Telegraph is now a hypocrite.

It would be hard to believe anyone who claims they research _every_ product before a purchase. What we can do is inform ourselves as much as possible and weigh our choices against this information. All we can really ask is that people strive to become better decision makers and not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.  

Given the knowledge that almost everyone is making purchasing choices that in some way contradict their values, is it really ironic that Anonymous is wearing a mask trademarked by Warner Bros? Perhaps the word you’re looking for is “unfortunate.” 

What is also unfortunate is that members of the press have chosen to attack Anonymous, while ignoring the important issues we’ve raised about human rights, our environment, and the corrupt acts of our business and political leaders. As it turns out, it’s just much easier to take pot shots at average citizens who express logical grievances with the status-quo. 

Some of the same journalists complaining about inflation, worrying about climate change, or ranting on about the flaws in their nation’s healthcare systems, are among those who frequently declare,  “I just don’t understand what they’re protesting.” These people use their lack of understanding to justify attacks against conscientious citizens. They claim to love democracy but obviously can’t stand it when people behave democratically. Are these the kind of people who deserve the privilege of reporting our news?

What Martha Gill failed to mention is that there were thousands of protesters in Southeast Asia wearing Guy Fawkes masks while protesting the same “unpleasant conditions” she fabricated about a mom and pop store in Brazil. The next time Gill wants to exploit the suffering of others and pass judgement, maybe she’ll consider conducting an interview with them before arrogantly calling someone else a “hypocrite.” 


- Anonymous


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Lloyd Vivola Photos: Longest Walk 4 arrives in Utah

The Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz is in Richfield, Utah, today, Nov. 8, 2013. Walkers are headed for Nevada, and will arrive in Alcatraz on Dec. 21, with a ceremony on Dec. 22, 2013. Long Walker Lloyd Vivola shares these photos from the road, the walk across Colorado, with Censored News.

By Lloyd Vivola
Censored News
Scroll down for photos

Aho Mitakuy!

The Longest Walk 4 has reached the Colorado-Utah state-line with much support
from the good people of Grand Junction CO who have generously supplied us with
lodging, hot meals and moccasins on the ground as the spirit carries the sovereign
staff west on the Red Road toward Alcatraz Island.
Much hospitality along the way: from the likes of working-class families, soup
kitchens, an American Indian musician and a horse-rescue rancher.
We also deeply appreciate the online donations, large and small, which help
maintain safety and good health along the way.
Crossing hundreds of miles of Colorado has seemed to transpired with unusual
fluidity in spite of the many challenges. The autumn season has been kind for the
most part; the subtle, nuanced colors of the fall landscapes markedly different
from those so many of us know in the northern climes of Great Turtle Island.
Cactus and yucca began to dot the high prairie not long after we left Kansas.
We have also been blessed by many sightings of mule deer; big, bold, elegant
magpies; majestic bald and golden eagles.

The ascent of Monarch Pass - where we crossed the Continental Divide - was
exhilarating. Breath-taking scenery. And a breath-robbing effort for the thin oxygen
levels at 11,312 feet above sea level. I was very proud of our small group for how
we handled the slow climb and humbled by the awe-inspiring Creation that
encircled us every step up US Route 50 as it follows an old Ute trail across the
mountains and plains.
We enjoyed a remarkably warm reception and participation from the First Peoples
and Chicano supporters of the American Indian Movement in Pueblo which included
a presentation at the Main Public Library. There was an ample sampling of delicious
local recipes at our many convivial dinners: elk stews, rabbit and rattlesnake sausage,
and baked bison lasagna. We also participated in our first sweat lodge since leaving
eastern Kansas.
At Gunnison CO, we received an equally enthusiastic welcome from students and
young people associated with Western Colorado State University, some who joined
us for meals and the walk through town. I was very impressed, as I have been by
other young people we have met, by their thoughtful concern for issues that will
impact the ecology of the their communities for generations to come.
At Cerro Summit, we were joined by the family of the departed Robert Buckskin,
a much respected Red Road activist and one of the spiritual forces behind the original
Longest Walk in 1978. There we dedicated the day's journey to his memory.
To be sure, there is much hurt and healing along the path of the Longest Walk 4.
Among the walkers: sore muscles, bruised egos, cranky support vehicles. Among
the good folk we meet: no shortage of life challenges with human hearts and faces.
And so, we are always inspired when, in spite of such challenges, they join us in
the walking prayer.
If southwest Colorado is known as one of the coldest corners of the continent come
this time of year, we experienced just that when we were forced to camp out two
consecutive nights in sub-freezing temperatures. We can expect only colder nights
as we begin to cross the dry, desolate prairie and mesa of Utah and Nevada.
In fact, beginning here and now, US Route 50, the Longest Road in America also
becomes the Loneliest Walk in America. And so I cannot stress enough: hospitality
aside, we walk the walk on a shoe-string budget, one that helps assure safety, security
and good health as we go. Thus, contributions, no matter how small, are deeply
appreciated and can be easily made at our official website:
http://returntoalcatraz.com/make-a-donation/Thanks to those who have already donated.
As always, timely coverage of Longest Walk 4 can be accessed online at Brenda
Norrell's blogspot, CENSORED NEWS. Kudos to our resident photographer, Bad Bear
Sampson, for living it and keeping it fresh.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/So until next time, wishing everyone peace and good power,
As always,
Lloyd V. 

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Flagstaff: Anti-Colonial and Anarchist Bookfair

http://www.taalahooghan.org/fire/

Photo Standing Strong on Mi'kmaq Land

Photo by Marius Paul, published with permission at Censored News, thank you!

By Marius Paul
Censored News
Marius said, "I traveled to Elsipogtog rez, near Rexton, New Brunswick where of recent, our senses were assaulted by images of the RCMP manhandling women, children, and jailing the men who made a stand against such unbridled, disrespectful and hateful display of police powers against Indigenous People. This photo is taken at the camp, Rexton, New Brunswick, rebuilt after the raid by the RCMP to severely hamper any organized resistance against fracking on unceded lands."
"The youths have me very impressed after we all convened within a circle to discuss the sacred."
Marius said to those who continue the resistance in the camp, "My heart will be with you, bros! You stand them down well, and the spirit of the free whispers a chant of the ages. MIQ MAQUI! Proud to be with you, and love to you from out west! With the best of the Maritimes! Land and water protectors -- allies, warriors and youthful ardor against fracking in Miq Maqui Lands!"

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