Copyright © 1997 - 1998 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Look around at what is happening today.

Look at the mining interests moving in, again, on reservation land, to dig into our Mother Earth in their never-ending quest for gold, silver, gems, copper and uranium.

Look at big business, using the U.S. courts in order to gain tribal land to expand their businesses at the expense of Indian people.

Look at the politicians who are attacking the sovereignty of Indian Nations by trying to enact legislation which would take away our rights to govern ourselves.

Look at the courts who are deciding who is and isn't an Indian person because of their so-called blood quantum requirements in direct opposition to the wishes of the tribal councils.

Look at Child Protective Services, nation-wide, who are skirting federal law which was enacted to protect our children from illegal adoption.

Look at the museums and private collectors who are keeping the market for our antiquities alive by offering big money for our ancestors belongings and their very bones.

Look at the people who are disturbing and desecrating our ancestor's graves in the name of retail and the almighty dollar.

Look at the bureaucrats who, to our faces, use the term self-determination, but when they return to capitol hill the "d" and "e" are removed making it self-termination.

Look at the compacts that are signed with each state so that Indian Nations can be "allowed" to open casinos on our own land, and what those compacts are really saying about who has "jurisdiction" over the operation of these casinos.

Look at the foreign markets that are flooding the U.S. with cheap, "knock-offs" of Indian art and jewelry.

Look at the vultures who are stealing our culture and spirituality and offering it for sale to anyone with enough money to try and "buy" their way into being Indian.

Look at the federal government who is trying to "intervene" into the jurisdiction of reservation courts and police using "gang problems" as an excuse.

Look at the continuing use of genocide against Indian people on the "american" continents.

Look at our political prisoners who remain in the cages of federal, state and local institutions for the acts of defending our Indian people.

If these things are happening to Indian people today, what is to stop them from happening to anyone else tomorrow?

With this in mind, we are calling for one day, to put our differences aside. To set aside our political agendas, our personal grievances, our tribal distrusts, etc. and come together as one voice.

We are calling for a national RALLY FOR JUSTICE to be held on the Mall in Washington, D.C. one year from today...Columbus Day, 1998. This is to be one day where all indigenous peoples from around the world come together in solidarity against the tyranny which is taking place around us.

We are asking the leaders of ALL civil rights organizations, indigenous groups, activist groups, and anyone who is concerned about the plight of indigenous peoples to join us in this wake up call.

We are asking for the support of all Indian Nations Tribal Councils, hereditary Chiefs and Clan Mothers.

We are asking for the support of ALL leaders, chapters, and members of the American Indian Movement (National and Autonomous), NCAI, NARF, NCORSM, IITC, and any and all groups who speak and act for Indian people; leaders of all organizations who deal with issues facing their people, including, but not limited to, the Nation of Islam, NAACP, MECHA, Tonatierra, Si Se Puede, ALO, New Panther Vanguard Movement, LPDC, LPSG, NOW, National Gay and Lesbian Coalition, and Greenpeace.

We are asking that ALL Indian families send, at least, one representative to this gathering in Washington so that the "powers that be" will feel the presence of the real power on this land.

Finally, we ask for as many Indian drummers, singers and dancers as possible join us on this day so that we can share our culture with the other Indigenous peoples of this world and so that we can also celebrate the 49,500 years BEFORE Columbus.

There will be periodic mailings on this subject as details are worked out and as news continues to come in as per participation, guest speakers etc. If you would like to be added to the mailing list in regards to RALLY FOR JUSTICE, please email AIMAZ@aol.com so that your name can be added. Future mailings will go out as "BCC's" to reduce the header.

We will be contacting a great many organizations personally, inviting them to attend and seeking their participation and support. We hope to see you all in Washington next year as we bring the "mountain to Muhammed".

In the Struggle for Justice,

Vernon Foster
Southwest Regional Director
American Indian Movement
AIMAZ@aol.com