ICUG Welcomes WFJ at their Journey’s End |
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Walk For Justice |
Walk For Justice a 3,800 mile walk across the USA from Alcatraz Island, California to Washington, DC |
Actor & Activist ~ Dennis Banks
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ICUG was there to Meet and Welcome the WFJ to Washington, DC at the end of their Journey |
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| ICUG Author’s Note: I first met Dennis Banks and
Russell Means, in 1971, through my association with Youth Organizations United (YOU), of
which the American Indian Movement (AIM) was a Member Organization. Dennis and Russell had
just finished a television appearance with host Maury Povich on his talk show Panorama
which I had been watching, and then they walked through the doors of our YOU National
Office here in Washington, DC. In person, they were both "larger than life"
personas, and meeting them then made an indelible impression on me. In 1994, when I found
out that Dennis was leading the Walk For Justice across the USA and arriving in
Washington, DC, I felt it an opportunity to reunite energies, and I was honored that he
allowed ICUG to play a supportive role in their Washington, DC arrival, and honored still,
that ICUG made the Official Walk for Justice Poster to announce and chronicle the event!
ICUG produced more than 1000 full size color posters for the WFJ and it became part of the
ICUG Native American Indian Heritage Poster Series. To further honor the event, ICUG designed 3 commemorative Walk For Justice Bolos Necklaces that were hand-crafted in the Cherokee traditional way by ICUG’s own Maga WiseCarver, craftsman extra-ordinaire. The above photo was taken by Clyde Bellecourt of AIM, after presenting the Bolo necklace to Dennis Banks. The two ICUG co-Founders in the photo, to either side of Dennis, had been up throughout the previous day and night, without sleep, in preparation to meet the Walk For Justice Walkers as they Arrived in D.C. |
| The WALK FOR JUSTICE is a 3,800 mile, five-month spiritual walk which began February 11, 1994, with an opening ceremony attended by over 400 persons at Alcatraz Island near San Francisco. Led by Native American Dennis J. Banks, walkers from around the world and 21 tribal nations crossed 25 mountain ranges with elevations up to 11, 300 feet, survived three blizzards, visited six Indian Reservations, organized and ran in a four-day, 1000 mile spiritual run, and presented cultural programs of traditional Native drumming, singing and dancing each night |
| Led by Dennis Banks, Activist, Actor and Co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM) the purpose of the WALK was to bring public attention to a variety of Native American issues including Treaty Rights, Religious Freedom Rights, Grave Desecration, Protection of Sacred Sites, Nuclear Waste Dump Sites on Native Lands, Native Prisoner Rights, the Sports Team Mascot Issue and the 18-year prison ordeal of Leonard Peltier. Signatures on petitions requesting President Clinton to grant Executive Clemency to Leonard Peltier have been collected throughout the duration of the WALK. |
| Here we present a photo pictorial taken as the Walk for Justice arrives in Washington, DC after their long and successful Journey across the USA. Before entering Washington, DC, they stopped and assembled across the bridge in Arlington, Virginia at Lady Bird Johnson Park on the shores of the Potomac River ~ then marching on the final distance, across the bridge into Washington, DC and assembling at the Lincoln Memorial. It was through ICUG’s own co-founder Jessica, whose tireless efforts and sharp eye, captured the following photographs, to "Honor and Preserve these Spiritual Moments in Time". |
Arlington, Virginia across the Bridge from Washington, DC |
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ICUG Official Walk For Justice Poster, above |
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| Walkers and Supporters assemble July 15th on Potomac River Shores |
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The Sacred Staff is brought in preparation for the Morning Prayer Circle |
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Morning Prayer Circle as Walkers Give forth Thanks and Prayers |
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On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial preparations are made for the Walkers Arrival |
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| Crossing the Bridge and coming around the Bend theWalk nears the Lincoln Memorial |
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A Distance shot of the Walkers at the Lincoln Memorial and Reflection Pool |
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Dennis Banks gives Television Interview aside with Teepee in the background |
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In Ceremonial Dress, with Horses and Teepees ~ The Walk for Justice at the Lincoln Memorial |
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Above center, ICUG displays Native American Indian Poster Series at The Walk |
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Close up of the above photo, showing ICUG
display of the Native American Indian Poster Series. Bringing the Historical Figures to
Life in Poster format attracted the interest of many who attended the Walk for Justice. Besides the many individuals who we gave free smaller copies of the posters, many Teachers and those in the Educational Community from across the USA requested the ICUG Poster Series to use in their Classrooms at their Universities and Schools. |
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Lavonne White, Fasting for the Freedom of Lenorad Peltier |
Oglala Lakota Woman on Hunger Strike and Fast Lavonne White, full blood Oglala Lakota mother of two began a water-only fast and prayer vigil on June 16, 1994. From the Sun Dance grounds at Oglala, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Lavonne has made the solemn vow to fast, to the death if necessary, unless and until President Clinton takes concrete steps towards the release of American Indian Movement Leader Leonard Peltier. Ms. White, age 30, is a deeply spiritual woman committed to the cause of her people. Through without nourishment since beginning her vigil, her spirits remain high. Physically, however she is beginning to show signs of strain. She has lost seven pounds, and while blood tests remain fairly normal, she is passing the threshold beyond which grave, permanent injury can be expected. Lavonne began her hunger strike after consulting with traditional Lakota spiritual leaders regarding a vision she received several years ago.
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| ICUG presents Bolo to Lavonne |
Walking in the Footsteps of Her Lineage In taking this action, Lavonne is walking in the footsteps of her Amnesty International, 60 Members of Congress, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Rev. Jesse Jackson and the World Council of Christians and Jews are among the tens of Millions worldwide who have called for Leonard Peltier's immediate release. Peltier has been held in federal prison eighteen years for the killing of the FBI agents during a shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Reservation on June 26th, 1976. Amnesty International describes Peltier as a political prisoner, land has called for his release. 'I believe wholly that he is innocent,' said Lavonne. The White House has yet to acknowledge the hunger strike. The Justice Department has said that Peltier's request for Executive Clemency 'is under active consideration,' but will not comment on the status of the request. Supporters are encouraged to call the White House to voice their concern. time is short. Emotional support can be sent to : Lavonne White, c/o Inez Two Elk, PO Box 366, Oglala SD 57765 |
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Reuniting Energies ~ Michael, Dennis Banks & Jessica wearing Free Leonard Peltier Shirt which is from the Leonard Peltier Rally held November in Laffyette Park across from The White House ~ Washington, DC |
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| After a 3,800 mile Walk, Dennis is gracious enough to take a moment out for a photo with yours truly | Mrs. Dennis Banks takes a photo with Jessica during events |
* ICUG Online * The Y.O.U. Story * NAIH Poster Series
