San José, CA – Alrededor de 20 miembros de la comunidad se reunieron en el Centro de Paz y Justicia de San José, el 10 de diciembre, Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, para honrar a Leonard Peltier, líder del Movimiento Indio Americano y prisionero político por casi 50 años.

El evento fue presentado por Donna Wallach, presidenta del Grupo de Apoyo a Leonard Peltier de Silicon Valley y una firme organizadora comunitaria de toda la vida. Dan Battaglia, miembro activo del Grupo de Apoyo a Leonard Peltier de Nueva York, y Paulette Dauteuil, miembro de la junta del Movimiento Jericó y el Comité Ad Hoc Oficial por Leonard Peltier, ambos asistieron por llamada al evento. Ellos describieron la mala conducta del FBI que llevó al arresto, juicio y encarcelamiento ilegal de Peltier desde 1978. También enfatizaron la importancia de la lucha continua por su libertad.

Julie Dominguez, embajadora de la Tribu Muwekma Ohlone, lideró un reconocimiento de tierras de parte de la tribu. Dominguez dijo que la Tribu Muwekma Ohlone está viva, yéndole bien, y continuando la lucha por el reconocimiento federal.

Philip Nguyen de San José Contra la Guerra habló de uno de los pilares de la organización siendo la solidaridad con la resistencia indígena en contra del colonialismo y el robo de tierras. Nguyen mencionó que la continua supervivencia de Peltier estando encarcelado ilegalmente es la resistencia misma y una “señal para endurecer nuestra determinación para luchar como el infierno por los vivos – por Leonard, por los palestinos y por todos los otros pueblos oprimidos.”

John Paul Amaral, presidente de la Organización Estudiantil Nativo Americana en la Universidad Estatal de San José leyó un poema que escribió llamado, Ternura en Humo, que describía su rabia y pena por el descubrimiento a principios del anterior año de fosas comunes sin nombre de niños nativo-americanos que fueron forzados a entrar a internados, una práctica común para oprimir y borrar culturalmente a los nativos americanos.

Brian M. Smith, miembro del Grupo de Apoyo a Leonard Peltier de Silicon Valley, leyó la declaración de Peltier del Día Nacional de Luto.

John Duroyan de la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad resaltó que “el encarcelamiento es una de las muchas herramientas que la clase dominante usa para reprimir nuestros movimientos, sabotear nuestros líderes, e intimidar a la gente en todas partes donde debemos resistir con fuerza,” y continuó, “la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad se solidariza con Leonard Peltier y su lucha por libertad y justicia.”

Después del programa, Wallach dio el llamado a la acción para llamar al presidente Biden para que perdone a Leonard antes de que deje el cargo. La comunidad nacional continuará movilizándose para liberar a Leonard Peltier, solidarizarse con las comunidades indígenas en todas partes y resistir la represión política.

#SanJoseCA #CA #OppressedNationalities #IndigenousPeoples #InJusticeSystem #LeonardPeltier #AIM #FRSO

San Jose, CA – About 20 community members gathered at the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, December 10, International Human Rights Day, to honor Leonard Peltier, American Indian Movement leader and political prisoner of almost 50 years.

The event was emceed by Donna Wallach, chair of Leonard Peltier Support Group Silicon Valley and a staunch and lifelong community organizer. Dan Battaglia, an active member of Leonard Peltier Support Group of New York City, and Paulette Dauteuil, board member of the Jericho Movement and Official Leonard Peltier’s Ad Hoc Committee, both called in to the event. They described the FBI misconduct that led to Peltier’s wrongful arrest, trial and imprisonment since 1978. They also emphasized the importance of the continued struggle for his freedom.

Julie Dominguez, ambassador of Muwékma Ohlone Tribe, led a land acknowledgement on behalf of the tribe. Dominguez stated the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is alive, doing well and continuing the struggle for federal acknowledgement.

Philip Nguyen of San Jose Against War spoke about one of the organization’s pillars being solidarity with indigenous peoples’ resistance against colonialism and land theft. Nguyen mentioned that Peltier’s continued survival while wrongfully imprisoned is resistance itself and a “signal to steel our resolve to fight like hell for the living – for Leonard, for the Palestinians and all other oppressed peoples.”

John Paul Amaral, president of the Native American Student Organization at San Jose State University read a poem that he authored called, Tenderness in Smoke, which described their rage and sorrow upon the discovery early last year of the unmarked mass graves of Native American children who were forced into boarding schools, a common practice to oppress and culturally erase Native Americans.

Brian M. Smith, member of Leonard Peltier Support Group Silicon Valley, read Peltier’s statement from the National Day of Mourning.

John Duroyan of Freedom Road Socialist Organization highlighted that “imprisonment is one of the many tools that the ruling class uses to suppress our movements, sabotage our leaders and intimidate people everywhere that we must strongly resist,” and he continued, “Freedom Road Socialist Organization stands in solidarity with Leonard Peltier and his fight for freedom and justice.”

After the program, Wallach gave the call to action to call President Biden to pardon Leonard before he leaves office. The national community will continue to mobilize to free Leonard Peltier, be in solidarity with indigenous communities everywhere and resist political repression.

#SanJoseCA #OppressedNationalities #IndigenousPeoples #InJusticeSystem #LeonardPeltier #AIM #LeonardPeltierSupportGroupSiliconValley #JerichoMovement #MuwékmaOhloneTribe #SJAW #NativeAmericanStudentOrganizationSanJoseStateUniversity #FRSO #Feature

Minneapolis, MN – About 150 people joined the American Indian Movement, the Indigenous Environmental Network and OccupyMN for a rally and march to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline, Oct. 27. Speaking in front of the Canadian Consulate, Clyde Bellecourt, of the American Indian Movement expressed solidarity with OccupyMN, denounced the oppression of native peoples and urged support for the movement to bock the pipeline.

The planned pipeline would transport synthetic crude oil from the Tar Sands of Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the Midwest, and southward to the Gulf of Mexico. Chief Terrence Nelson, of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation Tribe in Manitoba, Canada, traveled to Minneapolis to speak and participate in the rally and march.

The rally opened with the chant, “O Canada! You must know! The GK pipeline has to go!” Later, AIM drummers led the march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis.

A statement from protest organizers states, “The pipeline will destroy wetlands, continue to feed our addiction to global climate change – inducing fossil fuels, create enormous amounts of global warming and toxic pollution and hurt indigenous people’s lands.”

#MinneapolisMN #IndigenousPeoples #AmericanIndianMovement #EnvironmentalJustice #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyMN #ClydeBellecourt #AIM #TarSandsKeystoneXLPipeline #IndigenousEnvironmentalNetwork