Re: NCAI reacts to USSC decision on Indian Child Welfare Case

RE SENT TO MARXIST GROUP (Second Re Send)
 
It's trite to say that the USSC decision on the Voting Rights Act was extremely regrettable (to put it mildly.)  To anyone even reasonably "in the know," that is obvious.  "Pre-clearance"via the U.S. Justice Department of electoral policy by states and counties with a long history of voter discrimination has been, and is, absolutely essential.
 
Plenty of civil rights victories were won in places like Dixie before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of '64 and the Voting Rights Act of '65 -- but that legislation has been of tremendous value in the on-going struggle for social justice.
 
It's true that, in the last half century, much has changed in those jurisdictions covered by the Act.  African American voter registration and political participation are very widespread -- and the same holds true in those settings where historically the Native population and often Chicanos have had much difficulty.  But, under the surface, there's still plenty of shrewd and self-serving use of racism. And this is definitely true of economic pressures against low-income people. Economic poverty and marginality are obviously endemic in Dixie and in many other parts of the United States.  Capitalism in its various manifestations still rides high.
 
And let's be broadly honest: human politics, anywhere and in any time, are often noted for chicanery -- frequently very creative in nature.
 
Personally, I don't look for the sky to fall -- pervasively.  And I really don't see Klansmen as such sprouting up like corn in Iowa. There will be the increased presence and nefarious activities of "sheet-less" entities, many pretending to be functioning "under color of law."  But, and even with the full Act in force, there were still plenty of voting rights issues and now there will certainly be more -- ranging from serious mischief to outright Machiavellianism. Literacy tests and interpretations of the state constitutions are out.  But there will be issues ranging from "voter qualifications" to racial gerrymandering / re-districting and more.  
 
"Minority" people and communities in the "dark" corners of the South and some other places -- the "out of the public eye" locations -- will now be at increased and special risk.
 
And the burden of securing redress will now rest mainly on the victims.   There is, usually costly money-wise for individuals and 'rights organizations, legal remedies in the Federal courts.  In some instances, the Justice Department can likely still be maneuvered into providing assistance. While an appropriate Constitutional Amendment would be difficult to effect, it's possible that, at a future point, Congress will do an effective "fix."  
 
But it's a certainty that increased grassroots organization and mobilization and vigilance, if always important, are now absolutely critical.
 
Hunter Bear
 
HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / 
St. Francis Abenaki / St. Regis Mohawk 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO
www.hunterbear.org 
(much social justice material)
 
See the new expanded/updated "Organizer's Book," 
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new substantial 
introduction by me. This book is a full, very detailed 
discussion of the rise and development of the Jackson  
Movement of 1962-63 -- external life and internal dynamics.  
And this book is also an organizer's how-to manual.
 http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm   
 
And see the related http://crmvet.org/comm/hunter1.htm 
 ("Militant and Radical Organizer": -- and also "Fifty Years:
Remembering Medgar Evers")
 http://www.solidarity-us.org/site/node/3876
 
See the Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
(Many photos.)
 
Our very large page on Community Organizing:  
http://hunterbear.org/my_combined_community_organizing.htm

--- In [email protected], "Hunter Gray" <hunterbadbear@...> wrote:
>
> Indianz.Com. In Print.
> http://www.indianz.com/News/2013/010222.asp 
> 
> NCAI remains hopeful after ruling in Supreme Court ICWA case
> Tuesday, June 25, 2013
> Filed Under: Law | National 
> More on: cherokee, icwa, narf, ncai, south carolina, supreme court
>     
>       The National Congress of American Indians remains hopeful that a Cherokee Nation citizen can retain custody of his daughter despite a negative ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court today. 
> 
>       In Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, the Supreme Court ruled that two sections of Indian Child Welfare Act can't be used to protect the parental rights of Dusten Brown. But the case will be returned to South Carolina for further proceedings so the dispute isn't over. 
> 
>       "We are confident that his parental rights will be upheld, and that Veronica will stay with her family," NCAI President Jefferson Keel said in a press release from Reno, Nevada, where the organization is holding its mid-year conference. 
> 
>       Keel pointed out that the majority's decision upheld the legality of ICWA. Some observers were worried that the court might eviscerate the law, which was passed in 1978 to keep Indian children in Indian families. 
> 
>       "Today's decision sends a clear message that there is no question of ICWA's role as the most important law to protect Native children and families. The decision also affirms Congressional authority to protect Indian children," Keel noted. 
> 
>       Through their joint Tribal Supreme Court project, NCAI and the Native American Rights Fund lined up a staggering number of briefs in support of Brown and of the goals of ICWA. Keel said that support will continue as the case returns to South Carolina. 
> 
>       "We remain committed to Native families and we will continue to support Dusten Brown's fight for his rights as a father and for Veronica to remain with her loving father, grandparents, and community. Dusten loves his daughter and has never given up in this process, and neither will we," Keel said. 
> 
>       Supreme Court Decision:
>       Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl (June 25, 2013) 
> 
>       Oral Argument Transcript:
>       Adoptive Couple v. Cherokee Nation (April 16, 2013) 
> 
>       South Carolina Supreme Court Decision:
>       Adoptive Couple v. Cherokee Nation (July 26, 2012) 
> 
>       Related Stories:
>       Supreme Court set to rule in Indian Child Welfare Act case (6/24) 
>       NPR: Supreme Court to rule in Indian Child Welfare Act case (6/24) 
>      
> 
> HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / 
> St. Francis Abenaki / St. Regis Mohawk 
> Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO
> www.hunterbear.org 
> (much social justice material)
> 
> See the new expanded/updated "Organizer's Book," 
> JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new substantial 
> introduction by me. This book is a full, very detailed 
> discussion of the rise and development of the Jackson  
> Movement of 1962-63 -- external life and internal dynamics.  
> And this book is also an organizer's how-to manual.
>  http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm   
> 
> And see the related http://crmvet.org/comm/hunter1.htm 
>  ("Militant and Radical Organizer": -- and also "Fifty Years:
> Remembering Medgar Evers")
>  http://www.solidarity-us.org/site/node/3876
>  
> See the Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
> http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
> (Many photos.)
> 
> Our very large page on Community Organizing:  
> http://hunterbear.org/my_combined_community_organizing.htm
>




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"[C]apital comes dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blood and dirt."
--Marx, Capital, Vol. 1, Chapter 31