Press Release: 08/03/2024
Our Civil rights have been violated as American Indians.
A call for solidarity over settler violence at Indigenous Graves occurs.
Carteret County, NC – On Sunday June 23, 2024, American Indian women, children and elders faced intimidation and hate-induced brutalization during an unarmed, peaceful prayer to honor exposed and desecrated American Indian burial grounds at the Bridgeview housing development in Cedar Point, North Carolina.
“Start out with the history, this country was founded on genocide and slavery. It has been at the root of the United States Government to dominate and conquer for stealing Indigenous peoples and our land for exploitation and extraction. That hatred has bled into some of the cultures of the European guests to Turtle Island, which is what was seen Sunday June 23rd, and is inexcusable if we wish to coexist as community and neighbors.
Police brutality is nothing new to Indigenous people. It does not shock me that this off duty police officer follows that colonial mindset. Assembling a violent mob to mercilessly attack the peaceful, nonviolent and unarmed Native Americans who were only trying to protect our ancestors' remains and grave sites. As the Arlington Cemetery, Veteran memorial graves in DC to the local rural cemeteries your kin are buried are considered sacred and honored, all graves should be taken as sacred and protected. This is because we all honor our ancestors through our shared customs and beliefs.
In solidarity we will never condone violence or oppression on any life on Momma Akii, Mother Earth. Mukwa stands in solidarity with our relations and allies on the East Coast in North Carolina and extends mutual aid and support. We ask that all relations and allies also stand in solidarity.” - Gina Peltier, Chairwoman Mukwa Board.
Information shared by Dr. Crystal Cavalier, co-founder of affinity organization 7 Directions of Service announced at a June 26th press conference, have included:
Relatives of Haudenosaunee, Siouan, Algonquin, Muskogan, and others organized in unarmed and in peaceful prayer, honoring our Tuscarora ancestors' remains. Organized ceremony in response to the removal of the genocide and basic human rights violations provisions that North Carolina’s House Bill 385 had contained at the time.
Direct details are documented, video recorded, and injuries confirmed, but they are all under current protection by legal representation for our victims. What we are allowed to disclose for clarity is these families witnessed and experienced violence against women and a minor.
One of the families involved is the sister, and one minor is the daughter of a Missing Murdered Indigenous Woman who was murdered in Robeson County. The impacts of that alone, compounded with a man with a gun and an off-duty police officer, and the social hostility today we experience from police make it even worse.
For more information and to keep current on means to provide mutual support and solidarity please head over to 7 Directions of Service: 7directionsofservice.com.
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