That was Clyde Bellecourt, cofounder of AIM

[Mike__M]

The angry native man who started speaking at the end of the Black America Community Forum was Clyde Bellecourt, cofounder of the American Indian Movement.



DU has gotten all riled up lately about respect for prominent civil rights activists. Geez, Bernie, don't disrespect Clyde Bellecourt. Meet with him. Soon. He was angry--damn right he was angry--he was arrested just a couple years ago, for sitting on a bench in a mall, listening to the drums of a Round Dance Revolution event in support of Idle No More. So he was angry--listen to him. Damn it. Listen. Answer his question.

OK, I know, Bernie had to get to another event. He's busy; he's on a tight schedule. I know that. But Clyde Bellecourt is not just some angry dude. Cofounder of the most controversial, notorious and influential Indian organization of the 20th century--he deserves to be heard and answered. And he's Native--understand this: when a Native, especially an elder, has something important to say, white man's time is irrelevant to him; if you're going to listen, you'd better be patient. And you really should listen.

I'm in for Bernie, and I'll stay in, but please, Bernie, do the right thing, again.


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[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Bah. I jumped ahead til I was right before his question

and Bernie said 'maybe one more question', and the moderator dude said something like 'our time is short, and we'll take one more if it's short (sharp?) and it looked like they chose Bellecourt, and the moderator reiterated something like 'we're on native land, and we'll honor that if you'll honor our time limits'... and then the video cut off on me for some reason and paused indefinitely.

So I don't know what Bellecourt asked or how well Bellecourt was answered.

But I at least know he was given time with the understanding that he would respect the fact that they were 'under the gun' as far as time went. So apparently the misunderstanding about the nature of time flowed both ways. And that's unfortunate.

Maybe Sanders can schedule some time in the future to meet specifically with Bellecourt, or specifically with folks from AIM (I imagine Meteor Blades over at Daily Kos, who was in AIM and shows up in some of the historical photos, wouldn't mind a chance to meet with Sanders as well) to bring up NA-relevant issues. You can't change the past, but you can change the future.

(ETA: Have you seen this article yet? http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/02/12/few-notes-native-people-about-presidential-elections-neither-democrat-deserves-our-vote )

[Mike__M]

3. Thanks for the link - a good article

Gyasi Ross was standing on the stage at Seattle

[Mike__M]

4. In case you haven't seen it yet

Bellecourt ranted a bit along the lines of Why should we listen to you--all your government has done for us is take everything. I was loving it. The moderator kept asking him to get to the question; Bernie was on his feet, ready to leave. Finally Bellecourt got to one question: Are you going to honor the treaties? Bernie got out a brief --I'll do everything I can-- response before leaving.

I haven't watched it again, but I got the sense that the moderator knew Bellecourt, and knew there wasn't adequate time for him; that's why he stated and repeated that time was short; I imagine that Bellecourt must have made clear that he wasn't going to be silenced.

Anyway, I think in the end it was a good thing. Sorry for the organizers to have their forum derailed at the end, instead of the round of applause that probably would have ended it. Someone in another thread remarked that they had their own BLM-like incident. But once again people have had enough of being ignored. So.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. If they knew Bellecourt

then maybe they should have gotten to him with a bit more time left, rather than giving him the last minute question when they knew time was short.

[SoapBox]

6. Agree.

And not to forget...Bernie has done one or more (I just don't fully remember) meetings with Native Americans.

I hope Bellecourt will ask her the same...if, he can even get to her.

...interesting from the article in the Star Tribune:

Native American people have gotten terrible deals with the federal government,” Sanders told Bellecourt. “I will do everything I can to address that, absolutely.”

After the event, Newby said he understood the frustrations of the Native American community, but that the forum was intended to specifically address the black experience.

Newby, NOC's executive director, added that Sanders had said some “very powerful things” about the criminal justice system, but that the senator had more work to do in sharpening his proposals on how his community investment strategies would filter down to the people in the room.

Does "she" have specifics about proposals that will filter down to the community?

Why do I feel that so many times people want rock hard, detailed specifics from Bernie...but all "she" says is, no we can't or I'll look into that.

[Downwinder]

2. Mentioned in the Star Tribune article.

http://www.startribune.com/sen-bernie-sanders-appears-in-north-minneapolis-at-forum/368674581/