Robert Soto and Eagle Feathers have their day in Court
July 7, 2007
Dear Friends:
I wanted to take the time to thank all of you who prayed and who sent notes of encouragement. If feels good to know that so many of you are behind us and what we are doing.
I entered the court today with our lawyer and his assistant and went before the Judge and the lawyer sent to South Texas by the Department of Interior to represent the United States side of the lawsuit. This hearing was in response to an 80 page motion presented by the Department of Interior asking the federal court to dismiss our case. We did not know what to expect and my lawyers were ready to defend the need for the case in view that we might lose. I do not know much about courts and judges but from the very beginning, the Federal Judge started rebuking the lawyer for the Department of Interior telling them that we had the right to bring this before the court and defend our side. At the end of the hearing I asked my lawyer, "I am not sure what happened here today but on my end it sounded good." He responded, "Today we won."
Not only was the motion to dismiss filed by the Department of Interior denied but a court hearing was set for September 7 where we will have an opportunity to present our case before the court in hopes that we will once again regain our rights as American Indians to use sacred objects like eagle feathers in our worship of God, ceremonies and at our pow wows. To God be all the glory.
I just want you to know that we are not suing for money. We are suing for the right to be who God made us to be and to worship our Creator as he created us to be, American Indians. If we win, our victory will help the over 4 million of the 5.5 million who claim to be American Indians but under the law and the way it is written today do not qualify and discriminate against those who desire to use sacred objects like eagle feathers to honor God the Creator.
Thank you so much for your prayers. Today, we won. Keep us in prayer as we continue to fight for the rights of American Indians. God bless.
Robert Soto
Special thanks to Karen Redhawk for the lead.
Contents
July 2007 Reports
Last updated on July 11, 2007