PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Thursday August 16, 1996, Father John Hascall, O.F.M. Cap., confirmed
with the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police that a warrant was issued thru the
Tribal Prosecutor Gregor MacGregor III's office. The Tribal Police did not
discuss the particulars of the warrant with Fr. John, saying he could see
the warrant when they arrest him. Tribal Police hinted to Fr. John through
the media that if he turned himself in, it would avoid a confrontation on
the hill. When Fr. John called the Tribal Police they hastily read some
of the counts. From other sources, Fr. John has learned there are nine
counts on the warrant which alleges that Fr John committed conspiracy,
injury to trees, cutting trees without a permit, obstructing justice,
trespassing, illegal entry of land; these are the only charges that Fr.
John can find out about.
Fight For Justice wants to emphasize that Fr. John Hascall has in no way
conspired with Fight For Justice in any way in the take over of the Tribal
Center building or any of the subsequent actions of Fight For Justice. Fr.
John Hascall has only provided needed spiritual advice and sanctuary of
the Roman Catholic Church to individuals fighting for their basic human
civil rights.
Fr. John Hascall is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie band of Chippewa
Indians. He has stated that, "sanctuary is a right, not a privilege and
that it is his duty as a priest to provide the protection under a law
older than most others. I always stand for people and justice. I'm always
going to be there. It's the teaching of the Church."
Fr. John has also stated that, "the bond provisions are a violation of the
Religious Freedom Act." Members of Fight For Justice who have been
arrested have been extorted by excessive high cash bonds, (whereas Tribal
Chairman Fred Dakota's grandson & nephew of Chief Tribal Judge Brad
Dakota, is released on a personal recognizance bond for Grand larceny) and
forbidden to attend mass and Native American spiritual ceremonies, which
is also a violation of the Native American Religious Freedom Act. One such
individual is Judy Smith, Great Granddaughter of Chief Sitting Bull of the
Sioux Nation and a Keweenaw Bay tribal member. Judy has been sitting in
Marquette Co. jail since August 11, 1996 because she will not agree to
the provisions of the bond forbidding her from attending church and
spiritual ceremonies.
Fr. John said, "many of his parishioners are afraid to come to mass and
attend native ceremonies fearing they will be fired from their tribal
jobs."
Fight For Justice would like to thank Fr. John and the Church for not
caving into pressure from the bogus tribal council and the tribal
chairman, who is presently awaiting trial for federal charges of
conspiracy, tax evasion and the taking of illegal kickbacks, in offering
sanctuary to individuals who are fighting the corrupt tribal government of
the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.
The tribal government is being aided in carrying out the atrocities
against members of the tribal community by a non-Indian Public Relations
Specialist, Rich Rossway , a non-Indian Judge, Douglas B. Gurski and also
a non-Indian tribal prosecutors office issuing trumped up charges for
political reasons.
For More information on the struggle of Fight For Justice visit Internet
site http://www.up.net/~rose/native/native.html
To protest the housing of political prisoners, call Marquette county jail
at 906-228-6980.