Today:Ninth Circuit to Hear Apache Stronghold’s Plea to Save Oak Flat from Destruction
Today: Apaches in court to save their sacred land
Ninth Circuit to hear Apache Stronghold’s plea to save Oak Flat from destruction. Go to: (uscourts.gov)
Apaches in Arizona will be in federal court this morning to save their sacred site known as Oak Flat from being destroyed by a copper mine that would swallow their holy ground in a nearly 2-mile- wide crater deeper than the Eiffel Tower. If the court doesn’t intervene, the government will turn this historically protected land over to a foreign-owned mining company that will obliterate the sacred ground where the Apaches conduct their most important religious ceremonies.
In Apache Stronghold v. United States, Apache Stronghold, a nonprofit community organization dedicated to the defense of Native American sacred sites, is asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stop a crooked land swap with a mining company that will completely destroy the sacred land and devastate the Apaches’ religious life. Becket is representing Apache Stronghold, arguing that the destruction of sacred sites is a flagrant violation of the free exercise of religion.
Members of Apache Stronghold, Poor People’s Campaign and supporters will be rallying near the courthouse during the virtual hearing. Details about the rally and hearing are below.
What:
Oral Argument in Apache Stronghold v. United States
Who:
Luke Goodrich, Becket vice president & senior counsel
Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr., Apache Stronghold
When:
Friday, October 22 at proximately 11: 20 a.m. PST
Where:
Rally and listening session location (outdoors): Civic Center Plaza
Larkin St between Grove St and Fulton St, San Francisco 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. PST
In addition to Becket, Apache Stronghold is represented by attorneys Michael Nixon and Bill Carpenter.
Oral argument will be held virtually at this link: Live Video Streaming of Oral Arguments and Events (uscourts.gov)
Attorney Luke Goodrich and Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr. will be available for comment immediately following
the hearing. Join us for statements live on Twitter @BECKETlaw.
Apache Stronghold and Supporting Tribal Representative and Organizations Gathered at Wishtoyo Chumash Village for a Day of Prayer, Exchange, and Action. October 17, 2021.
Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation, Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation, Tongva Gabrieleno Band and many other Southern California Tribes, organizations and supporters gathered for a Day of Prayer on Sunday October 17th at Wishtoyo Chumash Village in Malibu CA in solidarity with the Apache Stronghold and their Spiritual Convoy to the 9th Circuit Court being held as we speak to protect their sacred site at Oak Flat, Chi'chil Bildagoteel. Special Thanks to Stephanie Mushrush, Joel Garcia, Josh Andujo, Joe Garza and all the many volunteers, too many to name, from LA, Long Beach, Ventura areas that came to support!
Oral argument will be held virtually at this link: Live Video Streaming of Oral Arguments and Events (uscourts.gov)
“As it was at the beginning of our people with one prayer, one drum and one circle we again must defend our sacred land and our home with one prayer, one drum and one circle,” said Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr. of Apache Stronghold. “We have worshipped on Oak Flat since time immemorial in reverence just as Abrahamic faiths reverence Mt. Sinai and we will be outside the courthouse to defend and protect our sacred place.”
“The government’s plan to destroy Oak Flat is a tragic reminder of how terribly our nation has treated, and still treats, native peoples,” said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. “Such callous disregard of religious practices would never be tolerated for other faith groups, and it is long past time for our nation to provide equal protection for Native Americans and their religious practices.”
Additional Information: https://apache-stronghold.com?events.html
Media Contact: Ryan Colby | media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7219
Becket is a non-profit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions and has a 100% win-rate before the United States Supreme Court. For over 25 years, it has successfully defended clients ofall faiths, including Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians.