Native Youth Drummers Attacked by Snowbowl Supporter at City of Flagstaff Ski Event – Dew Downtown
Saturday, February 9, 2013
CONTACT:
protectpeaks@gmail.com
www.protectthepeaks.org
Native Youth Drummers Attacked by Snowbowl Supporter at City of Flagstaff Ski Event
*Video will be posted soon.
Flagstaff, AZ — As part of a weeklong call for actions, more than 50 people gathered in downtown Flagstaff for an Idle No More flash mob round dance to support protection of the holy San Francisco Peaks.
The protest, which coincided with Dew Downtown, a City of Flagstaff sponsored event in partnership with Arizona Snowbowl, was organized to address Snowbowl ski area expansion and snowmaking with treated sewage.
In an apparent effort to prevent conflict between Dew Downtown and the Round Dance, protest organizers were invited to speak on the music stage at Heritage Square and then sing a song between bands. Rudy Preston, a long time advocate for the Peaks, was handed the microphone at 5:00pm to speak about the dangers of recycled toilet water snowmaking. He spoke about 5 minutes to a mixed crowd of Dew Downtown attendees and Idle No More Round Dancers. He invited the crowd to join in the Round Dance and offered literature for people who would like more information. Drumming for the Flash Mob Round Dance began at that point and a majority of the crowd joined in.
Rudy Preston
“This is a very divisive issue in our community and I was thankful for the opportunity to speak to a crowd of people who probably did not agree with my views and I hope that some of them will question if skiing on recycled toilet water is a wise decision. Even if it were to bring a few dollars to an already cash-strapped town it is not worth the risk to anyone’s health and wellbeing.” said Rudy Preston, websteward at TrueSnow.org.
When the dance was finished an impromptu march left the square and went towards the main Dew Downtown ski run area. Flagstaff police stopped the marchers from entering the area stating that Dew Downtown organizers had a permit and the protesters weren’t allowed onto the sidewalk. The march then stopped at the entrance to Dew Downtown and the protesters began chanting and singing songs.
Danny Blackgoat, a Dine’ (Navajo) from Black Mesa exclaimed, “This is how real snow is made!” as he gestured to the sky at the snow that was falling all around.
The group chanted, “Protect Sacred Sites, Defend Human Rights!”, “No Desecration for Recreation, Protect the Peaks!” and “No Poop Snow!” when a lone Snowbowl supporter began yelling racist remarks, profanity, including the words “die” at the protesters.
The group formed a circle and were closing the protest with the American Indian Movement song when the apparently inebriated Snowbowl supporter rushed into the circle of protesters swinging her arms and tore through a large banner, pulling it from the people holding it and smashed it on the ground. She then pushed further into the circle and assaulted two young Dine’ who were singing and drumming. After punching at them, she grabbed at the drums and tried to break them.
“I feel if the roles were reversed it would have been a different outcome,” said Leslyn Begay, Dine’ mother of the 11 & 13 year olds that were assaulted. “If I attacked a caucasian child I would have gone straight to jail. This white female attacked us and knocked their drums out of their hands and may get away with it. Its racism. The cops refused my request to arrest her for assault. They gave her a disorderly conduct ticket but refused to charge her with assault or jail her for her actions against my kids.”
In response to the attack, police officer Jim Radloff said, “you may offend some people with your messages… it was her [the attacker’s] freedom of speech.”
A few of the protesters quickly reacted and pulled the attacker away from the boys and she attempted to leave the area. A few people followed her while someone alerted the police.
The police determined that the woman had been drinking and was charged with disorderly conduct and released. Many of the eyewitnesses were very upset that she was allowed to just walk away and even though she was witnessed to have been punching and swinging at everyone in her path, the police did not feel that there was enough evidence to charge her with assault.
Officer Radloff with the City of Flagstaff defended his decision when asked why she was not arrested by stating, “the outcome will be the same either way, she will be summoned to court.”
When pressed on the fact that numerous people watched the attacker assault multiple people, he said he would include that in his report and let the city attorney decide if there was enough evidence to charge her with assault.
Officer Radliff did not seem to believe one boy when he told the officer that the woman had hit him. In fact if he was surrounded by at least half a dozen people who witnessed the event insisting that she be charged with assault, it is unclear if the attacker would have even received a disorderly conduct charge. Though Officer Radliff did ultimately state “she was clearly disorderly.”
Many witnesses to the attack were visibly shaken that she was allowed to just walk away with a ticket.
More info and background at: www.truesnow.org, www.protectthepeaks.org.
###
What was the woman’s name?
The info may be posted tomorrow. We were quick to get this release out and did not have it at the time. An important note is that the police were prepared to escort the Snowbowl supporter from the area without addressing the incident further (ie. no ticket or arrest). One person who was doing impromptu copwatch asked the cops directly what would have happened if a protestor allegedly hit a kid who was participating in the Dew Downtown event… the cop said they would have been arrested immediately.
WELCOME TO AMERICA
That’s so infuriating! A one-sided deal!? When will it ever end? Go to the court date and make sure all witnesses are heard. Hope the judge is smarter than radliff.
[...] Originally posted at: http://protectthepeaks.org/native-youth-drummers-attacked-by-snowbowl-supporter-at-city-of-flagstaff… [...]
Reminded me of when the car my family were in was struck by a car driven by a caucasian woman. No chance of fairness in Flagstaff Az..
[...] [...]
[...] [...]
Drinking booze is no excuse..abuse is abuse and needs to be dealt with accordingly ! Let one get away without consequences they’ll all think they can too
Melba
Racism is alive and well in Flagstaff. So sorry and thank you all for your efforts.
It is greatly horrible that of the City of Flagstaff. Horrible!!
I support your efforts! Have someone video taping next time – something like this on video could easily go viral and bring a lot of attention to the cause! Good luck~
No one has the right to perpetrate violence against children. The drunken attacker needs to be held accountable. Her actions are inexcusable.
Police need to make this right. We are not a racist town!
[...] par Protect the Peaks et Indigenous Action Media Publié aussi sur Censored [...]
Traduction française:
http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=1545
I was born in flagstaff and the city officers and citizens can be racist. Also maybe the officer could know the women, its a small town, and defended her with a less charge.
[...] Downtown ski run area where they were stopped by Flagstaff police, according to a Protect the Peaks press release. Protesters chanted at the Dew Downtown entrance and were closing the protest with the American [...]
The woman’s name is public record once she goes to court. Get her name and get a picture of her if she does it again and put up a Facebook page called “The Faces of Racism” and get her on it. If the kid is insistent upon being hit by the woman, then someone needs to call Social Services and MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT. If the police department refuses to investigate and press charges, they are negligent on behalf of the State of Arizona! There are laws that still need to be abided by – especially where it concerns innocent, young children.
The City is liable in this matter if the perpetrator is not treated equally under the law. And this is a matter that the ACLU and other organizations should be very interested in. Protect your photos, videos and witness contact information. By doing so, you will be protecting other children from similar attacks. It is important that everyone knows that assaults like this will *not ever* be tolerated!!!
P.S., the Daily Sun article today on Doo Flagstaff [] has no mention whatsoever of the assault. Comments on their website are merited! And City Council has a worksession tonight at 6p. More comments!
Be outraged! I am.
…uncledon.