I am glad to post Bad River Chief Mike Wiggins endorsement of non-violence protest only at the site of the massive mountaintop removal and open-pit mine proposed by GTAC near the tribe's lands and waters in NW Wisconsin.
The Northwoods do not need heavily-armed mercenaries on mine site guard duty; an irrevocable human tragedy on top of environmental degradation was just a trigger-finger squeeze away in the Penokee Hills; Wiggins is to be commended for trying to make sure that does not happen..
GTAC's importation of Arizona M-4 battlefield-inspired weapons near hikers and campers was a crude intimidating blunder. It's time for the mining company to permanently get its assault rifle teams out of the area.
And GTAC hired a security force because...wild bear threaten the drilling operation. Yes, that's it. That could be the only reason.
ReplyDeleteJames, you're better than this. Tell the whole story. Why not?
I have repeatedly made reference to the minor vandalism that took place. Some people - - not tribal members - - got into a verbal tiff with mine personnel, and a cell phone/camera was stolen. For that, someone has been charged with felony theft, so there has been an appropriate law enforcement response.
ReplyDeleteBringing in people carrying assault rifles is a ridiculous and dangerous over-reaction, setting up a circumstance far worse than yelling and a stolen cellphone.
This is all about proportionality.
I see someone making excuses for people who broke the rules, and it isn't James.
ReplyDeleteEverything after that June 11 arrest falls on GTAC. Or would they like to pay back the giant tax break they took in exchange for the rights of access the public gets under the MFL program?
Should the Harvest Camp hire a private army because someone stole their flags? And what should happen to GTac president Bill Williams, who wrenched a tribal member's cell phone out of his hand, injuring him in the process? Ashland County refused to file charges since Williams claimed he thought the man gave him the phone (apparently mining company presidents and Vladimir Putin can get away with stealing things from people).
ReplyDelete