Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

April 8, 2011

UPDATED Glen Cove Calif. action April 14, 2011

ALL WARRIORS FOR THE ANCESTORS:
Action alert (Updated on April 13, 2011)
Glen Cove Calif. action alert - April 15, 2011
April 14-15th Call to Assemble
ALL WARRIORS FOR THE ANCESTORS:
The Protect Glen Cove Committee and the Board of Directors of Sacred Sites
Protection and Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSP&RIT) have received
information that leads us to believe that the desecration of Glen Cove
could begin on April 15, 2011.
We are calling for an ASSEMBLY of all Warriors to gather at 5:00pm on
April 14, 2011 at Glen Cove. Please arrive by 7:00pm at the latest, if you
would like to attend the community meeting.
The following morning (Friday, April 15th) at 8:00am, SSP&RIT will host a
PRAYER CEREMONY to honor the ancestors at this sacred place and to protest
this hate crime. Traditional drums welcomed.
Be prepared to actively protest this assault at Glen Cove. Cameras and
video cameras are a must, if you have them. Walkie-talkies are needed for
communications. Bring you cell phone chargers.
Bring you sacred medicine and join our prayer circle at Glen Cove. If you
can’t make the trip, please make a phone call and keep the phone lines of
GVRD and the City of Vallejo busy. (see numbers below)
ALL WARRIORS WHO WILL ANSWER THIS CALL: This is a NON-VIOLENT and PEACEFUL
protest. NO WEAPONS, NO DRUGS, NO ALCOHOL!
Reminder: All frontline supporters who have not registered are urged to
send their e-mail and cell phone # to: secretary.ssp_rit [at] yahoo.com
for updates and more information, please visit:
http://protectglencove.org/
April 7th UPDATE:
GVRD and contractors were meeting at Sogorea Te today (April 7). They
refused to listen to our concerns, refused to identify themselves or their
employers and tried to harass and intimidate SSP&RIT members and their
supporters. The police were called by Steve Pesley of GVRD, but no arrests
or interference resulted. Representatives of the Times Herald were on hand
and interviewed Wounded Knee.
The contractors intend to fence the ancestors in to protect their
equipment. The also intend to employ roving security at the site. We
expect that this fence will go up on the 13th or 14th of April.
The contractor is Carone & Company, Inc. Make a call and voice your
objections to them:
(925) 602-8800
5009 Forni Drive, Concord, CA 94520
DONATIONS REQUESTED
We are now requesting donations for an Emergency Defense Fund. Funds are
needed to purchase supplies, food, photocopies, sanitation, signs, etc.
Please contribute if you can!
Donations can be made online with a credit/debit card or a bank account,
and will be processed securely. To donate, visit:
https://www.wepay.com/donate/137138
Numbers to call:
Greater Vallejo Recreation Department: 707-648-4600
City of Vallejo Mayor: 707-648-4377
Vallejo Times-Herald newspaper: 707-644-1141
Times-Herald fax number: 707-643-0128
Carone & Company, Inc. (contractors): (925) 602-8800
for updates and more information, please visit:
http://protectglencove.org/
Sacred Sites Protection and Rights of indigenous tribes
Contact: Wounded Knee (707) 373-7195; Corrina Gould (510) 575-8408
Bradley Angel (415) 722-5270
AS Bulldozers may be arriving any day at the glen cove burial and shell mound site,
native americans to file civil rights complaint with the state of california against greater vallejo recreation district and city of vallejo

Press statement
Vallejo, CA – Faced with the possible imminent arrival of bulldozers at the Glen Cove ancient burial site, Native Americans will file an administrative civil rights complaint on April 13, 2011 with the State of California against the Greater Vallejo Recreation District and the City of Vallejo. A press conference will be held in front of Vallejo City Hall, 555 Santa Clara Street, on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at noon.

Sacred Site Protection and Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSP&RIT) is filing the complaint under California Government Code § 11135 alleging that the City and GVRD are discriminating on the basis of race in threatening to destroy and desecrate significant parts of the Glen Cove Shellmound and burial site, for harming Native Americans’ religious and spiritual well-being, and effectively excluding Native Americans from their right to full participation in the decision-making regarding this project.

The Glen Cove Shell Mound is a well-documented and culturally significant site located in Vallejo, California, and spans an area of fifteen acres along the Carquinez Strait. It is the final resting place of many Indigenous People dating back more than 3,500 years, and has served as a traditional meeting place for dozens of California Indian tribes. The site continues to be spiritually important to California tribes. The Glen Cove site is acknowledged by GVRD and the City to have many burials and to be an important cultural site, yet they are moving forward as early as this week with plans to build a toilet and parking lot on this sacred site and to grade a hill that likely contains human remains and important cultural artifacts. Native Americans and their supporters have vowed to protest any effort that could desecrate the sacred burial site.

Native Americans are a class of people protected from unlawful discrimination in state-funded activities and programs. Intentional discrimination against minority populations is prohibited under Cal. Gov. Code § 11135(a). As recipients of state funding, GVRD and the City are subject to this law and cannot violate the civil rights of Native Americans.

In addition, SSP&RIT will announce more details about plans to protect Glen Cove from desecration.

"Everyone has the right to a final resting place. Our ancestors deserve to have a resting place on their original land without the threat of being removed for the sake of a park,” said Corrina Gould, Ohlone resident of the Bay Area. “Other countries realize the significance of ancestors and honor the ancient cemeteries by not disturbing them. Who does it ultimately serve to complete this project? Let our ancestors rest."

                                                                       

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