[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 82 (Friday, June 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         WALK FOR JUSTICE 1994

 Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, Dennis Banks, cofounder of the 
American Indian Movement, is presently leading the Walk for Justice--a 
5-month, 3,800-mile spiritual walk that began February 11 at Alcatraz 
near San Francisco. The group, now consisting of 102 walkers, including 
native Americans and nonnative participants from the United States, 
Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe, is traveling cross-country and 
scheduled to arrive in Washington, DC, July 15.
  The purpose of the Walk For Justice is to bring public attention to a 
variety of native issues: Western Shoshone land claims and nuclear 
testing on their lands; Nevada and Utah prisoner rights, including 
matters of ceremony and hair length; the recent U.S. Supreme Court 
decision that stripped the Northern Utes of 2.9 million acres of land; 
the fishing struggles in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington State, 
where State legislation has attempted to subvert native sovereignty; 
sports team mascots and names that are offensive to Indian people; the 
proposed use of tribal lands for nuclear waste dump sites; concerns at 
Big Mountain involving water contamination, confiscation of livestock 
and wood, strip mining of sacred land, and forced relocation of 
traditional people from ancestral homes, and other important concerns 
and issues around Indian country.
  In addition, the walk is collecting signatures requesting Executive 
clemency for Leonard Peltier, who has served 18 years in prison for a 
crime his supporters, including Amnesty International, Members of 
Congress, and many world citizens, believe he did not commit.
  On July 15, the Cheyenne Keeper of the Arrows will lead the walk into 
Washington, and that evening, after an afternoon rally and closing 
ceremony, there will be an overnight prayer vigil on The Mall. The next 
day, on July 16, a concert will be held at the Lincoln Memorial for the 
public.
  On Monday, July 18, a meeting is scheduled on Capitol Hill, at the 
Senate Russell Office Building, room 325, from 1 to 4 p.m. At this 
time, a walk document will be presented outlining each of the native 
issues presented during the walk's 5-month journey and the collected 
signatures for Mr. Peltier will be turned over to representatives of 
the administration.
  I am planning to attend this important session with representatives 
of the Walk For Justice and congressional and administration 
representatives, to listen to and discuss these crucial issues of 
justice and fairness to Indian people, and urge my colleagues who share 
our concerns to attend as well.

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