---------- Forwarded message begins here ----------
Subject: AIM Leader Attacked!
Date: Sun, 10 Apr 94 16:31:23 -0500
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)
Message-ID: <Bq0N6vL.lhellwi@delphi.com>
AIM Press Conference Ends with Altercation
Shelley Davis - News from Indian Country
(Reprinted with Permission)
A press conference erupted with spit and coffee after the
Autonmous American Indian Movement chapters had read the preliminary
statement of the Tribunal, which was conducted late March.
Carole Standing Elk, of the "nationally recognized" AIM, came to
the press conference accompanied by her mother, Bertha Eastman, sister,
Fern Mathias, and Patti Jo King, of California AIM, Inc. Standing Elk
had planned to pass out information flyers, but was stopped by Bobby
Castillo, San Francisco Autonomous AIM and Leonard Peltier International
Support Spokesperson.
Standing Elk then wen to the San Francisco Press Club manager,
Bill Mason, and asked permission to pass out the information.
Mason told her she could give the information out on the
sidewalk outside, but the other group had rented the press room and that
this was their press conference.
As Standing Elk approached the door, carrying two large cups of
coffee, she said that if anyone wanted to know the truth she would give
it to them outside. Annette Jaimes, Colorado professor, said no one
wanted to hear Standing Elk's lies. Standing Elk came back inside the
door and became involved in verbal attacks. A San Francisco police
officer Clark Lee got between the two just as Standing Elk moved toward
Jaimes and Jaimes reached for Standing Elk. The officer and Jaimes then
found themselves drenched with coffee. Officer Lee grabbed Jaimes in a
headlock.
Standing Elk went outside where a verbal quarrel ensued between
her and autonomous AIM chapter members. Officer Lee then placed Jaimes
behind the Press Club door as shouting continued.
"Are you through? Stop, whatever your reason is, stop," Lee
said to Standing Elk.
"I want her in jail. Take her to jail," Standing Elk told the
officer.
Officer Lee told Jaimes that he had never had coffee thrown on
him so quickly in 25 years.
"You took a swing at this woman and threw coffee all over me at
the same time," said Lee.
Jaimes told him she had no coffee and to ask those in
attendance who had witnessed the altercation. Standing Elk persisted in
telling the officer to take Jaimes to jail when again, a shouting match
ensued.
"I am not here to determined who's right and who's wrong in this
issue, okay?" said Officer Lee. As shouting continued, Lee turned to
Ward Churchill, Colorado AIM co-director, and asked him to go inside.
Standing Elk continued to yell at Jaimes and he (Lee) finally yelled to
Standing Elk, "Would you walk away from this too, goddammit! Would you
be quiet? Would you be quiet?"
Jaimes was taken to the car. Churchill gave a statement to
inside the Press Club and Standing Elk was sent to the oposite side of
the club for a statement.
Patti Jo King, of California AIM, Inc. was asking how they (the
autonomous AIM members) could behave as such in the presence of an
elder, referring to the 88 year old Bertha Eastman.
Bobby Castillo, San Francisco AIM (autonmous) was taking
pictures of Standing Elk when she proceeded to hit him with her right
hand against his left ear. Castillo's hearing device was lost in the
altercation.
Officer Lee said he had gotten a call that there were some women
passing out flyers at the Press Club and that there were some
"suspicious people" there. He said when he got to the press conference
"the women weren't even here, they were walking up the street."
Press Club manager Bill Mason said that the Press Club did not
call the police and Standing Elk admits that she had.
"Do I feel I was used?" Officer Lee asked. "I don't know.
It's possible."
Northwest AIM member, Michael Hunter, said that Lee questioned
him upon the officer's arrival and asked where the women were who were
passing out flyers.
"This was very obviously a setup," said Hunter.
During the Tribunal, March 26, Standing Elk had thrown ice water
on Castillo when he was taking pictures of her, she admits.
Standing Elk claims that Churchill spit in her face and
Churchill has stated that Standing Elk spit at him. Charges and counter
charges were made but no one went to jail or was formally charged and
arrested.
More recently Standing Elk has said her wrist was broken in the
altercation. This report has not been confirmed.
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Mitakuye Oyasin, Waya Gola-JT Shupe. (shupe@rchland)
The above text contains my opinions, not IBM's. Unless otherwise stated.
External Responses to JT_WayaGola_Shupe@vnet.ibm.com
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The following article was posted to soc.culture.native in response. --Gary
Subject: Re: AIM Leader Attacked!
Date: 11 Apr 1994 20:13:50 GMT
Organization: Sun
Message-ID: <2ocb1u$af6@engnews1.Eng.Sun.COM>
In article <Bq0N6vL.lhellwi@delphi.com> LISA STALNAKER HELLWIG
<lhellwi@delphi.com> writes:
>AIM Press Conference Ends with Altercation
>Shelley Davis - News from Indian Country
>(Reprinted with Permission)
Last Friday I wrote that I'd called the S.F. Press Club for details, and
that I'd call back when Press Club people who were "eye witnesses" were
available. I'll use Lisa's post of the NfIC article as a frame. Because
of newsreader requirements, I've removed lines simply to boost my own line
count, this does not reflect on the content removed, or on posts which have
set forth a differing view.
> A press conference erupted with spit and coffee ...
I couldn't confirm who called the conference, who the hall-renters were,
but I was able to confirm that the woman who asked Mr. Mason, the Press
Club manager, for permission to pass out what I'll characterize as
"contrary" leaflets, did not rent the hall.
> Carole Standing Elk ...
>... had planned to pass out information flyers...
Confirmed, in so far as Mr. Mason's role. No information on that of any
other named persons in the above paras.
> As Standing Elk...
>...and Standing Elk was sent to the oposite side of
>the club for a statement.
No details, the next place to ask it seems to me is for the statements of
Officer Lee and his unnamed associate, in progress. See also the S.F.
Chronicle of the 29th, page unknown.
> Patti Jo King...
No details.
> Bobby Castillo...
> ...hearing device was lost in the altercation.
No details.
> Officer Lee said he had gotten a call that there were some women
>passing out flyers at the Press Club and that there were some
>"suspicious people" there. He said when he got to the press conference
>"the women weren't even here, they were walking up the street."
> Press Club manager Bill Mason said that the Press Club did not
>call the police and Standing Elk admits that she had.
Confirmed. The press club made no call, the two officers were present at
the Club within "seconds" (some very chort time, Ndlr) from when Mr. Mason
was first aware of the presence of the woman seeking to leaflet. See above.
> "Do I feel I was used?" Officer Lee asked. "I don't know.
>It's possible."
No details.
> Northwest AIM member, Michael Hunter, said that Lee questioned
>him upon the officer's arrival and asked where the women were who were
>passing out flyers.
No details.
> "This was very obviously a setup," said Hunter.
No details.
> During the Tribunal, March 26, Standing Elk had thrown ice water
>on Castillo when he was taking pictures of her, she admits.
No details.
> Standing Elk claims that Churchill spit...
>Churchill has stated that Standing Elk spit ...
No details.
>charges were made but no one went to jail or was formally charged and
>arrested.
Confirmed. No arrests were made.
> More recently Standing Elk has said her wrist was broken in the
>altercation. This report has not been confirmed.
No details.
Comments (mine), the original text (for c.s.n. readers, the Duran FAX)
suggests that significant physical violence took place within the view
of sworn peace officers. The operators of the venue where the event so
described do not confirm anything other than anonymously, even only
allegedly flung coffee (note no scalding has been alleged), and bad
words, but only exterior to their premisses, and the mechanics of the
police arival, non-calling status of themselves, and that statements,
not detention or arrests resulted. This casts serious doubts on at the
very least, the emotional distance of the Duran FAX author from the
events alleged.
More comments. Mr. Mason remarked on the well-behaved character of the
adult persons within the Press Club, and their children.
That's all for now.
-- #include <std/disclaimer.h> We learn through trail and eror. Eric Brunner, Staff Engineer, SunSoft, Chief Stuckee, libc et al brunner@bullhead.ssi.eng.sun.com trying to understand multithreading is like having bees live inside your head.