General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPeace vs hate. The context of Nathan Phillips and the Indigenous Peoples March.
Something I havent seen addressed enough in discussions of what took place in DC between Nathan Phillips, the Covington students and the Black Israelites is the context of Phillips having come from the Indigenous Peoples March and what that March was about.
Nathan Phillips had spent the day at a March promoting rights and justice.
The Covington students were coming from a place of taunting, both from their practices at sporting events and from taking part in the annual rally to control womens choice and bodies.
The Black Israelites purpose was apparently to be provocative and provoke passers-by.
That context of Phillips taking part in the first Indigenous Peoples March is important. He was taking part in a March of international solidarity, whose aim was to educate and acknowledge the many injustices inflicted on indigenous people around the globe and to make a peaceful and united stand for their rights. This is community in the most positive way, a realization that the strongest counter to hatred and policies that are enacted both locally and across borders and countries must be done by a movement that does the same.
Ive written about some of this on DU in the past, about the way the Kumeyaay were split from each other by the border with Mexico and the new strength of First Nations coming together across the Canadian/US border to fight against projects on both sides of the border which would impact communities both there and here. This movement is growing and that is positive at its core.
Coming from that place, in mind and spirit, Nathan Phillips saw the conflict developing between the two groups and sought to calm the situation. It looks like he was able to for a short time. That he was then mocked and scorned and is now being attacked for attempting to bring peace is a sad testament to where we are in the 21st Century.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)And in addition, and speaking to First Peoples working across borders, there is the Idle no More movement, started by 4 Canadian women.
https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100211705679
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Its going to take me some time to read through their website, time I will gladly spend.
2naSalit
(86,040 posts)suffragette
(12,232 posts)tenderfoot
(8,424 posts)suffragette
(12,232 posts)KT2000
(20,544 posts)this is indeed a sad testament to where we are - especially on a weekend when we honor Dr. Martin Luther King.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Indigenous Peoples March shows and in the celebrations and continuity of the legacy of Martin Luther King.
2naSalit
(86,040 posts)saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)It is indeed "a sad testament to where we are".
G_j
(40,366 posts)thank you
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)It would be nice to see more posts here (and elsewhere) highlighting the Indigenous Peoples March itself.
It seems like there were some very powerful, inspirational speakers who raised some critical issues.
Here are a few articles about the event:
https://www.nhonews.com/news/2019/jan/22/indigenous-peoples-march-different-reservations-sa/
https://www.fredericksburg.com/news/va_md_dc/first-indigenous-peoples-march-takes-place-in-washington-dc/article_d185bdd6-1ba4-11e9-972b-cb86ae7c8224.html
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/18/if-water-rising-then-so-must-we-indigenous-peoples-march-washington-against-global