#indigenouspeoplesday
Indigenous Organizers Face Political Attack by Flagstaff Police for Anti-Columbus Day Demonstration
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
OCCUPIED FLAGSTAFF, AZ — Flagstaff police stalked and cited an Indigenous organizer in so-called Flagstaff, Arizona last night for their alleged role in a demonstration that took to the streets the previous month on what is now recognized as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.”
The cops confronted the organizer at work and threatened that they were preparing to cite more people who may have been involved in the action based upon surveillance and a nearly month-long investigation.
According to a police report obtained this morning, at least 13 people, including Indigenous organizers and supporters, are facing misdemeanor charges of “Obstructing a Public Thoroughfare” for their alleged roles in the action. The report states that others have yet to be identified via social media and other forms of surveillance.
“We will not be silenced by what is clearly a political attack designed to deter further organizing for justice in our communities.” stated Maile Hampton, who is facing charges. “On the day that city officials celebrated their empty declaration of ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day’ this demonstration called for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, for an end to mass deportations and migrant detentions, for accountability of the city of Flagstaff for their hypocritical role in desecrating the Peaks, and to address the disproportionate level of arrests Native people face in this town. That I now face further state repression for standing for justice is not a surprise, it is the reality we face as we resist cultural genocide.”
“I do not see it as a coincidence that these charges come on the eve of a planned protest against desecration of the Holy San Francisco Peaks this Friday.” stated Klee Benally, who is also facing charges. “I will not be intimidated by state repression, I will continue to fight back and honor my ancestors and future generations through this process.”
The rally specifically addressed the disproportionate number of Indigenous People threatened and targeted in Flagstaff.
“This political attack further demonstrates a severe issue of targeted policing of the Indigenous community,” stated Benally.
According to the most recent census, Indigenous Peoples comprise 10% of the population but account for nearly half of all the annual arrests each year.
Organizers of the rally had previously called for these immediate actions:
- continued boycott of Arizona Snowbowl and for the City of Flagstaff to cancel their contract with the ski resort,
- end to racial profiling & I.C.E. collaboration and further work to abolish police in our communities by establishing community support networks and transformative/restorative justice options,
- repeal the anti-camping ordinance and all anti-homeless policies
- donations of sleeping bags and winter clothing for unsheltered relatives at Táala Hooghan Infoshop (1704 N 2nd St),
You can read more about the October 8, 2018 action here:
http://www.indigenousaction.org/land-defenders-take-streets-rejecting-empty-declaration-of-indigenous-peoples-day-in-flagstaff/
To support or contribute to legal defense please visit www.indigenousaction.org
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Rejecting Indigenous Peoples’ Day of Tokenism
Hosts Klee and Bonn talk with some awesome guests & revisit our 2017 ‘zine “Uprooting Colonialism: The Limitations of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” We dig into the questions, “How do whitewashed celebrations of Indigenous Peoples Day undermine decolonization?” and “What does it mean to be an anti-colonial abolitionist?”
Guests:
Amrah Salomón J. is a writer, artist, activist, and educator of Mexican, O’odham and Tohono O’odham, and European ancestry.
@oodhamantiborder, @defendoodhamjewed, Cashapp: $DefendOodhamJewed, Paypal.me/DefendOodhamJewed, Venmo: @DefendOodhamJewed
Kittie Kuntagion, @kittiekuntagion
Andrew Pedro, @desert.dweller.58 Got tired of seeing disapointing activist bullshit, now focused on music. Organizes metal/punk shows on and of the Rez.
Hosts:
Bonn: @bonnabella.xvx, Venmo: bonnabellaxvx
Klee: @kleebenally
About the podcast: Indigenous Action is an autonomous anti-colonial broadcast with unapologetic and claws-out analysis towards total liberation. We feature radical frontline Indigenous voices and dig deep into critical issues impacting our communities. So take your seat by this fire and may the bridges we burn together, light our way. www.indigenousaction.org/podcast
Email us at IAInfo@protonmail.com.
Subscribe, like, share on iTunes | Spotify, and Youtube.
Read the ‘zine here: https://www.indigenousaction.org/uprooting-colonialism-the-limitations-of-indigenous-peoples-day/
From the 2017 ‘zine: “…if the state dismantles these statues and proclaims Indigenous Peoples’ Days, what do we actually achieve if the structures and systems rooted in colonial violence remain intact? Is it merely political posturing or window dressing to diminish liberatory agitations? Our senses are heightened as most re-brandings of Columbus Day into IPD appear to whitewash ongoing colonial legacies… If the goal is for Indigenous autonomy, liberation of the land, people, and other beings, then why plead with our oppressors to merely acknowledge or recognize our existence?…To claim Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an act of decolonization is a failure of liberal assimilationists… Symbolically ending Columbus’ legacy while continuing to perpetuate and benefit from the violence of the ‘doctrine of discovery’ is just one more dead-end direction of Indigenous liberalism. If we understand that colonization has always been war, then why are we fighting a battle for recognition and affirmation through colonial power structures?… Indigenous Peoples’ Day, as a process of collusion with occupying state forces, risks becoming a colonial patriotic ritual more than anything that amounts to liberation.”
Direct action training, workshop, & panel discussion with Haul No! Protect the Peaks, Indigenous Action, & Louise Benally.
Friday, Oct 13th, 4p-8p
Free (bring a warm clothing/sleeping bag/tent donation for unsheltered relatives).
At Mayan Winds Coffee Emporium
2144 N 4th St. Flagstaff AZ
*Masks required!*
How do whitewashed celebrations of Indigenous Peoples’ Day undermine decolonization?
What ways can you directly support regional anti-colonial struggles?
Schedule:
4:00p-5:30p – Direct Action training
5:30p – Haul No! Resisting Nuclear Colonialism workshop
6:15p – Break for food (Provided, w gluten free & vegan options avail.)
6:45p – Panel Discussion: Supporting Regional Indigenous Resistance Struggles
8:30p – end
Celebrate and support ongoing frontline Indigenous resistance struggles!
This is a call for an Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage Against Colonialism on Sunday, October 9, 2022, everywhere.
We heard that mass actions are a bit out of fashion this season & lone wolfs or affinity groups are all the rage.
Counter the spectacle of the “good, respectable Indian” and their mundane celebrations of assimilation. Your ancestors invite you to embrace the veracious criminality of anti-colonial struggle and be smart (don’t get caught).
A banner drop? An attack on colonial symbols, monuments, etc. Spray paint? A broken window here, a burning xxxxxxx there? Be fierce and fabulously unpredictable and strike in the darkest part of the night (points if you use glitter). Even the smallest Indigenous dreams of liberation are greater than the settler nightmares we live everyday.
We won’t be making any lists or asking for emails this year due to a heightened sense for the need of greater security culture. Though we will post any securely and anonymously sent reports and pics in the aftermath.
In the spirit of Jane’s Revenge, abort colonialism. Colonizer (c)laws off our bodies!
– The insurrectionary anti-colonial invisible council of IPDR.
https://indigenouspeoplesdayofrage.org/
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