AIM FACES OFF WITH CORRUPT TRIBAL COUNCIL AT SUPPORT RALLY
“We Will Not Leave These People, You Will Have To Arrest Us All.”
Vernon Bellecourt Visits Rally to Show AIM’s Support
April 18, 2005
By Marty Hiles, World Talk Radio.com
Santa Rosa Cahuilla Indian Reservation – On april 16th & 17th, the tribal members of the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians held a support rally under the protection of the American Indian Movement San Diego Chapter with visiting AIM leader Vernon Bellecourt of the Grand Governing Council. Over 100 people gathered including tribal representatives from all over California with many representing disenrolled original California Indians. John Marcus an adopted non-Indian and former tribal chairman was recently removed due to misappropriation and mismanagement of tribal funds and affairs, he called the Riverside sheriffs to remove or arrest everyone. Unfortunately, the Bureau of Indians Affairs accepts only John Marcus tribal council even though the tribe is a custom and traditions tribal government vice having a constitution. In accordance with traditional customs, the tribal elders removed the corrupt Chairman Marcus and his council of felons, adopted Indians and non-Indians alike, which resulted in two councils claiming control.
John Marcus standing behind the protection of several Riverside Sheriffs demanded that everyone attending the peaceful gathering under the traditional oak tree be removed or arrested. At first the Sheriffs numbering up to eight with five vehicles at one point, requested that everyone must leave. During that tense time, San Diego AIM President Joseph Red Bear told the lead sheriff “We are not leaving these people, so you are going to have to arrest us.” He further stated that this was a peaceful gathering of tribal members who live on this reservation while the rest are invited guests. Other tribal elders told the lead Sheriff that John Marcus and the goons that accompanied him do not live on the reservation, that they have been removed from power and that they are always causing trouble for the reservation Indians. Further, AIM members lined up facing the sheriffs as Vernon Bellecourt gathered everyone around to explain civil disobedience procedures to ensure no one will get hurt on both sides of this tense situation, yet to make a strong statement as Indian people if arrested. Vernon Bellecourt was an inspiration for all and his presence gave everyone hope and strength to face the great challenges ahead for all Indigenous people.
Many were concerned that the AIM Chapter leadership would be the main target of arrest along with Vernon Bellecourt, including a few dozen AIM members. Numerous tribal members had made a pact to surround AIM leadership locked arm in arm for protection. In anticipation of an eminent arrest, one AIM leader was attempting to find someone to take his vehicle keys. To his surprise, most Santa Rosa Indians as well as other tribal visitors stated that they could not accept his key. Upon questioning, everyone stated that if arrests for peaceful gathering were to take place they were planning to be arrested along with AIM. At that point, someone stated, the Sheriff department had better get a few busses to carry us all to jail. One AIM Leader Marty Firerider stated that, “all the greed of disenrollment of original Indians over gaming monies must stop and it starts here today, this is ground zero.” In reference to the nearly 1,300 Indians disenrolled in California alone.
With a several hour exchange of polite negotiations between the lead sheriff spokesperson and AIM spokesperson Katherine Red Bear, the Riverside Sheriff department did an about face and stated that as long as we were peaceful we could stay and that a few officers would stay around to protect the peaceful rally. At that point Mr. Marcus and his band of goons left suddenly visually upset that they could not get their way of disrupting and arresting the peaceful gathering of original Indians and AIM.
When the stress of arrests were lingering over the event all day several tribal members told of how John Marcus (whose father was adapted in but not the children, including John Marcus) had called the Indian schools to force the children out because they were no longer enrolled Indians. Presently, he is trying to stop an elder who has a HUD home being built on her allotted land from moving in. John Marcus even is taking bids on the home despite the land belongs to an elder and her family. There are many more horror stories. This man will stop at nothing to gain power and have his gaming casino. The massive disenrollment stems from the largest family including mostly tribal members who do not want gaming and John Marcus and his small group of goons do. This tragic situation has been allowed to evolve because Mr. Fletcher the Supervisor from the Southern California Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) supports John Marcus. All this despite Mr. Fletcher personally being informed on numerous occasions on the tragedies taken place under the leadership of Mr. Marcus and his corrupt and violent former council and his few followers of non enrolled Indians, felons, drug dealers and a registered child molester. ALL under the approval of Mr. Fletcher of the BIA.
AIM President Joseph Red Bear stated that AIM would stand by Indian people such as Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians however long it takes for this Band of mostly women and children to win back their ancestral lands and rights as indigenous California Indians.
Marty Hiles
Talk Radio Host & Indian News Reporter
Marty Hiles
619-270-2294
World Talk Radio
April Reports
Last updated on April 30, 2005