JOHN GRAHAM EXTRADITED TO THE US: PRESS CONFERENCE *DEC 8th*
As most of you know, Harriet Nahanee was a great supporter of John Graham.
Yesterday he was Extradited to the US....please show your support for him by forwarding this message or attending the press conference tomorrow (Saturday December 8th, 2007).
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****All supporters of John Graham are invited and encouraged to please attend
this emergency press conference to show your support for John Graham and
his family.****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONFERENCE BY FAMILY OF JOHN GRAHAM,
YUKON TUTCHONE NATIVE EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES
==> Saturday December 8 @ 10:30 am at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson Side)
==> Press Conference with Statements from the family of John Graham and
supporters
Friday December 7, 2007 – The family of John Graham and supporters of
John Graham will be making statements to the media about John Graham's
extradition to the United States on Thursday December 6, 2007 after a
refusal by the Supreme Court of Canada to hear Graham's appeal.
His supporters continue to criticize the unjust extradition process and
the allegations that Graham murdered Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Anna Mae Pictou.
Former FBI regional director Norm Zagrossi has himself stated it "looked
like a cover-up" (CBC The Fifth Estate). Rex Wyler, Pulitzer-prize winning
journalist and author, has raised many doubts about the evidence against
John Graham.
John Graham has received support letters from a wide range of
organizations including Canadian Labour Congress, Native Youth Movement,
Chief Capilano of the Squamish Nation, BC Teachers for Peace and Global
Education, BC Hospital Employees Union, Stopwar.ca, Council of Yukon First
Nations, BC Federation of Labour. Amnesty International has also stated
concern about the lack of a fair trial.
Both the B.C. Supreme Court extradition judge and the B.C. appeal court
ruled there were deficiencies in the record of the case given to the
courts by U.S. officials. However the 1999 Extradition Treaty between the
United States and Canada lowers the burden of proof to include hearsay
evidence, which would not be admitted in a Canadian criminal court. Graham
and his lawyers have previously stated they would welcome a trial in
Canada, where the fake evidence could be exposed.
A key witness Arlo-Looking Cloud recanted his testimony stating that he
was coerced and under the influence of alcohol. Another prosecution
witness Kamook Banks admitted she was paid $43,000 to cooperate with the
FBI. One witness Al Gates that U.S. Attorney Robert Mandel stated would be
available for trial had been dead for nine months. Another witness Frank
Dillon has denied making any incriminating statements against Graham.
Supporters claim there are parallels to Leonard Peltier, who was
extradited from Vancouver in 1976 based on FBI affidavits signed by Myrtle
Poor-Bear, who claimed to be Peltier's girlfriend. It is now widely
reported that Poor-Bear had never met Peltier and had been intimidated by
the FBI. In 1979 former US solicitor general Warren Allmand acknowledged
this and formally apologized. 50 Canadian MPs have since submitted an
amicus curiae recognizing the grave mistake made in Peltier's extradition.
Between 1973-75, an estimated 67 American Indian Movement members or
associates were killed in South Dakota by Bureau of Indian Affairs police
and a paramilitary squad- Guardians of the Oglala Nation (GOON's). By this
time, the FBI had also targeted AIM with a counter-insurgency campaign
entitled COINTEL-PRO (Counter-Intelligence Program). COINTEL-PRO was also
used to target communist & socialist groups, the anti-Vietnam War
movement, and the Black Panther Party.
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It's so disgusting and bold faced wrong, it's hard to know what to do or say. This is evil. I have been a writer for many years, but in the face of all that is so wrong about this world, I find myself struggling to keep putting words to what I see. I will post a link to this on my blog in the morning. Nite.
Posted by
Dark Daughta |
December 7, 2007 9:21 PM
Have you followed protocol and talked to Harriet's family. Their wishes were not to have her name used for anything like this. They want her to rest in peace and not be used like this. It is our culture to put her pictures, names and personal belongings away for one to four years to assist with her journey to the otherside and not be held back. Also, there is no such thing as "Chief Capilano". We do not have a hereditary chief with that name. There is a member of Squamish saying he is Chief of Capilano but he is not and has not been bestowed such a chieftainship. The chieftainships are family names too, no places are included in the chieftainship. No protocol has been respected here and it saddens my soul to see this.
Posted by
Anonymous |
December 9, 2007 10:49 AM
In my culture, like yours, only the family can speak for the dead, hence we do not speak on Harriet's behalf, about her sacred life nor her death, but we share her struggle as that's what she asked of us the day before she passed away in the hospital.
We will continue to honor her life in this way. Her voice was constantly silenced throughout her life, and some continue to attempt to silence her voice now. When we pass on to the spirit world, that in which we fought for does not pass, hence we ask the creator to not let others silence our struggle nor our voice when our body dies. We cant let that happen.
Like Malcolm X, Harriet inspired many oppressed peoples all over the world. And like X, we uphold and honor what Harriet stood for and against.
Regarding Chief Capilano: If there are people in your community, such as the person you speak of whom you have issues with, we suggest you speak with him out of respect of your people's protocols, and not to those who are not involved in your community.
FIGHT FOR THE LIVING<><> HONOR THE DEAD!
Posted by
Anonymous |
December 9, 2007 9:17 PM