Miccosukees meeting Fidel Castro, 1959, Havana, Cuba. "More than 50 state bills that would criminalize protest, deter political participation, and curtail freedom of association have been introduced across the country in the past two years. These bills are a direct reaction from politicians and corporations to the tactics of some of the most effective protesters in recent history, including Black Lives Matter and the water protectors challenging construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock.
If they succeed, these legislative moves will suppress dissent and undercut marginalized groups voicing concerns that disrupt current power dynamics.
Efforts vary from state to state, but they have one thing in common: they would punish public participation and mischaracterize advocacy protected by the First Amendment."
Some of these bills want to impose criminal penalties and devastating fines simply for offering food or housing to protestors. For instance, a bill currently being considered in Wyoming would impose a $1 million penalty on any person or organization that “encourages” certain forms of environmental protest. Legislation introduced in Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, and North Dakota would have allowed drivers to hit protesters with cars without criminal repercussions.
Legislation is not the only tool the oil and gas industry is deploying in its effort to silence opposition. Six months ago, Energy Transfer Partners filed a $900 million dollar lawsuit against several environmental groups, including Greenpeace, alleging that a “criminal enterprise” was put in place to stop the pipeline project.
Similarly, 84 members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of Justice earlier this fall, asking officials to prosecute pipeline activists as “terrorists” — a troubling policy that resembles the one being lobbied for at a federal level by the American Petroleum Institute.
When did America become a "government of the corporation, by the corporation and for the corporation"?
In my books I mention when the Miccosukees had legendary lawyer Morton Silver fighting their case to be recognized as a sovereign nation but the U.S. wasn't interested. So Silver threatened to take the case to the UN and the World Court. Still nothing from Uncle Sam. But when he and some Miccosukee delegates had the audacity to meet in 1959 with the new Cuban leader Fidel Castro re recognition of their sovereignty-- and got it!-- Uncle Sam "saw the light" so to speak and bestowed sovereignty on the tribe (hence giving me the chance to take Sanctuary at its Miami Embassy).
If they succeed, these legislative moves will suppress dissent and undercut marginalized groups voicing concerns that disrupt current power dynamics.
Efforts vary from state to state, but they have one thing in common: they would punish public participation and mischaracterize advocacy protected by the First Amendment."
Some of these bills want to impose criminal penalties and devastating fines simply for offering food or housing to protestors. For instance, a bill currently being considered in Wyoming would impose a $1 million penalty on any person or organization that “encourages” certain forms of environmental protest. Legislation introduced in Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, and North Dakota would have allowed drivers to hit protesters with cars without criminal repercussions.
Legislation is not the only tool the oil and gas industry is deploying in its effort to silence opposition. Six months ago, Energy Transfer Partners filed a $900 million dollar lawsuit against several environmental groups, including Greenpeace, alleging that a “criminal enterprise” was put in place to stop the pipeline project.
Similarly, 84 members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of Justice earlier this fall, asking officials to prosecute pipeline activists as “terrorists” — a troubling policy that resembles the one being lobbied for at a federal level by the American Petroleum Institute.
When did America become a "government of the corporation, by the corporation and for the corporation"?
In my books I mention when the Miccosukees had legendary lawyer Morton Silver fighting their case to be recognized as a sovereign nation but the U.S. wasn't interested. So Silver threatened to take the case to the UN and the World Court. Still nothing from Uncle Sam. But when he and some Miccosukee delegates had the audacity to meet in 1959 with the new Cuban leader Fidel Castro re recognition of their sovereignty-- and got it!-- Uncle Sam "saw the light" so to speak and bestowed sovereignty on the tribe (hence giving me the chance to take Sanctuary at its Miami Embassy).
But my tribe the New Seminole doesn't have a silver tongued and muy clever Morton Silver representing us. We're on our own, using weapons of a different kind to protect us and our children. To paraphrase a piece of American history that has been long forgotten re the new bills introduced to usurp our basic freedoms, "don't try that shit with me?" I'm New Seminole and we won't stand for it.
To read more, please click here.
To read more, please click here.
RSS Feed
