(NAME-MCE) Longest Walk 2 Participants Violently Attacked by Columbus Ohio Police

[Aukram Burton]

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anniversary, and keep the walkers in your prayers.

http://www.longestwalk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=734&Itemid=121

For Immediate Release – NEWS RELEASE


Longest Walk 2 Participants Violently Attacked by Columbus Ohio Police
Indigenous Peoples Challenge Chief of Police to Act with Compassion
and Professionalism

COLUMBUS, OHIO- On Monday, June 2, 2008 after trekking over 2400 miles
on foot, participants of the Northern Route of The Longest Walk 2,
were violently attacked by Columbus Ohio police as men, women and
children walked through the town carrying sacred prayer staffs and the
message "All Life is Sacred". Without communicating with the Ohio
Department of Transportation, who were notified of The Longest Walk
passing through Columbus, Ohio, city police swiftly and forcefully
arrived with squad cars and arrest wagons and began assaulting the
peaceful walkers.

Eight police cars surrounded the walkers as the group walked into the
parking lane and up onto the sidewalk of Main Street. A police officer
approached a vehicle providing support to walkers, reached into the
window and grabbed the steering wheel. The police officer yelled at
the young woman driving a carload of young children and threatened to
place the children in Child Protective Services.

As dozens of police hastily approached the walkers, Michael Lane
(Menominee) was targeted by police with a taser, which was held three
feet away from Lane's head in front of his wife and young daughter.
Taser Guns are supposed to be aimed away from the head and towards
major muscle groups. Luv the Mezenger, who acted as road safety for
the walkers, was physically assaulted and thrown to the ground and
handcuffed. Luv has been a peacekeeper on the walk since departing on
February 11th and walked over a stretch of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
on snowshoes.

Michael Lane, a veteran walker from the1978 Longest walk arrived on
the walk with his wife, Sharon Heta, Tuhoe (Maori Tribal Nation), and
their children from New Zealand approximately two months ago. Lane,
who holds a law degree from the Arizona State University, stated the
worst part of being targeted by a police officer with a taser was that
it terrified his young daughter who was unaware that it was a taser
gun being held to their father's head – she only knew that a gun was
being pointed at her father's head. This violent action caused severe
emotional distress for the women and children that were witness to
these events.

Across the continent, police-induced deaths from tasers have
dramatically increased from overzealous police brutality. Luv suffered
minor injuries from the police attack. Police made no arrests. As the
walkers have endured the natural elements, they have walked though the
snow, extreme rain, straight-line winds, blazing heat, lightning
storms and near misses by tornadoes. Often tired, hungry, thirsty and
sore, they have been peacefully accepted into Native and Non-Native
communities, and this is the first experience of extreme police
harassment they have been faced with.

The Longest Walk 2 is a spiritual walk for cultural survival and is
comprised of men, women and children from Native and non-Native
communities including Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist Monks and
Nuns. The five-month long trans-continental journey on foot from San
Francisco will arrive in Washington, D.C. on July 11, 2008, bringing
attention to issues of environmental injustice, protection of sacred
sites, cultural survival, youth empowerment, and eroding Native
American rights. Two routes covering more than 8,000 miles in total
will arrive in Washington DC on July 11th where a three day cultural
survival summit will be held. The Longest Walk 2 also marks the 30th
anniversary of the original Longest Walk of 1978 that resulted in
historic changes for Native Americans.

Harassment by Ohio police continued the following day during a press
conference Tuesday, June 3, when police enforcement ordered Longest
Walk drummers off the steps of the Ohio Statehouse. The Longest
Walkers peacefully continued with their press conference and aired
statements shaming the police for their cowardly actions. Since the
prayer walk started at Alcatraz Island on February 11th, 6 states have
issued proclamations in support of The Longest Walk acknowledging the
message of "All life is Sacred" and encouraging citizens to join
walkers in their efforts to "Protect Mother Earth".

In a letter addressed to the Columbus Ohio Chief of Police, Longest
Walk supporter Pennie Opal Plant (Cherokee, Choctaw, Yaqui) stated, "I
am appalled by what is being reported. When did it become an issue
for people to simply walk? Why were your officers so threatening?
Why did they use such extreme force and fear tactics on a group of
unarmed peaceful walkers?" Opal Plant challenged Chief Jackson to make
amends to the walkers and challenged him to support the walkers. "Why
did they threaten to take the children to Child Protection Services?
These are unacceptable behaviors for any police officers in any
department in the United States. "I urge you to do the right thing
here. We are living in uncertain times and acts of compassion and
kindness are needed for us all to make our through these times with
grace. You can do something good here that makes up for the officers
that intimidated defenseless non-violent people in your city."

Longest Walk 2 is part of many communities ongoing commitment to
protect sacred sites, cultural preservation, and to create awareness
about the environment. People from all over the world are joining the
walk with its peaceful and spiritual call to action to protect Mother
Earth and defend Human Rights. The Longest Walk is an Indigenous
Peoples walk and is open to people of all nations and cultures.
Everyone is invited to join in and participate in the walk at any
point in time on either route, for any length of the route. For more
information please visit www.longestwalk. org

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-- 
Morning Star Gali

www.longestwalk. org
www.earthcycles. net