A plethora of law enforcement officials have decended on the
Round Valley rez (Covelo, N. Cal.), violating civil liberities laws in the
name of a dead law enforcement official. I could understand the anger of
the law enforcement community from this tragedy, but that's no reason for:
illegal searches, warrant-less raids, stopping cars for minor violations
to interrogate community members, using out-dated warrants to bribe
others, physically harassing elderly and children and pretty much just
treating the Indians of the rez like they are all criminals.
Urgent action is needed to call for full investigation into the
abuses of law by law enforcement officials and to raise awareness about a
case that would have caused an uproar of people in ant other non-Indian
community. The BIA has sent an offial to investigate, but we all know
how fruitless that's gonna be.
When people fear for their children safety to point where they have to
send them out of the rez to live with relatives, you know something is wrong.
"...a thousand intertwined spider webs can stop a lion."
[paraphrased Africa proverb]
respect and harmony
roberto.