Support the "Indigenous People's Day 5" facing trial
On December 8, the group known as the Indigenous People's Day 5 are facing trial. Please call Marin County District Attorney Lori Frugoli (415-473-6450) and demand the charges against the IP5 be dropped. Please also take the extra step to speak with the receptionist.
Some background: On Indigenous People’s Day 2020, at Mission San Rafael, a group of protestors threw red paint on and toppled the statue of Junipero Serra, an 18th century founder of California missions. Serra oversaw the rape, enslavement and torture of Indigenous people. It is said today that “an Indigenous person had a life span of under one week” if they entered a mission.
Police selected five Indigenous people, all women and Two Spirited people, out of the mostly white crowd to arrest. Marin County DA Frugoli charged them with felony vandalism after Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco and prominent Catholics held an exorcism "expunging the site of evil" and brought pressure on the DA to frame the case as a “hate crime” against religious property. This disproportionate response is happening at the same time that similar statues were toppled in Sacramento and in San Francisco. Thank you for acting in solidarity with the Indigenous people of California.
email from: california@poorpeoplescampaign.org