Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The United States of America is a country that claims to be a place where truth and justice are supposed to be the "American Way". But the Indigenous Peoples of the America's have known neither truth nor justice since the imposition of this United States of America on this Great Turtle Island. While this United States of America espouses the great principles of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, they have made no semblance of an effort to live up to those lofty and honorable principles and virtues.

As we watch the murderers of Candace Rough Surface, Robert Many Horses, Wallace Black Elk Jr, Ronald Heard Heart, Gabby Daniels, Leroy Jackson, eight Indigenous people in Rapid City, nine in Winslow, AZ, Ronald Bear Track; to mention a few of the Indigenous victims of genocidal hate crime murders; walk away from their crimes. As we watch the United States Civil Rights Commission note that killing a dog in SD is more likely to bring vigorous prosecution than the killing of an Indian. As we watch Leonard Peltier, Scott Seeyle, Eddie Hatcher and other relatives languish in cells because they spoke up. As we watch the culture and spirituality of Indigenous Nations trivialized in a circus like atmosphere in a country that see's Indians as sports mascots for America's fun and games. As we watch those who have gone before denied even the right to rest in peace as their graves are desecrated for science, for a condo, for a parking lot. As we watch the people sick of burying their relatives, sick of having their sovereignty and treaty rights being ignored, sick of watching their buried relatives dug up, sick of their religion being ignored and sick of being sick. As we watch this, the American Indian Movement of Florida asks just what the hell is there to celebrate on July 4th. Whose Independence is it we are celebrating, from what and for whom.

So, on July 4th some Florida AIM members and their supporters will hold a day of mourning with a rally at the Castillo De San Marcos at 12 Noon in Saint Augustine, FL. As Americans celebrate what they believe to be a country of truth and justice, the Florida AIM will mourn the lack of the same for Indigenous peoples. We will do so in front of the death house for many Indigenous freedom fighters who were sentenced to die at what was then Fort Marion, an interment camp for Indigenous patriots whose "crime" was resisting the "American way" which appears to use to be less about truth and justice and more about racism, injustice, and colonialism.

We ask the good people of America to wake up and see through the illusions of truth and justice and see the reality of America today. We ask the dominant society which claims to hold these principles of truth and justice dear, to join us in a movement to make truth and justice a reality in North America for everybody, especially the Indigenous peoples and Nations of this Great Turtle Island. Until then, as we do on the so-called Thanksgiving day, Florida AIM will call July 4th a Day of Mourning.