Oak Flat Protest, Apache Stronghold Hits NYC, West Lawn of Capitol

Center for Biological Diversity

Oak Flat Protest, Apache Stronghold Hits NYC, West Lawn of Capitol

The powerful grassroots movement to save Arizona's Oak Flat -- a sacred site of the San Carlos Apache -- arrived in Washington, D.C., this week with an unmistakable message: This land, sacred to native people for generations, should not be desecrated by a massive copper mine.

Members of the Apache Stronghold have crossed the country over the past several weeks. As they went they gathered support from tribes and others who oppose a congressional rider, added to a defense spending bill passed in December, that traded away Oak Flat to foreign mining giant Rio Tinto. The caravan made a splash in New York City's Times Square on Friday and then arrived in Washington, D.C., earlier this week -- culminating in a rally on Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol. The protest featured drumming, singing and speeches from tribal leaders and supporters -- including Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who has introduced a bill to repeal the rider and save Oak Flat.

Thank you to all those who showed up in person or sent support from afar. Check out photos of the caravan arriving and rally, read a New York Times blog post by Center for Biological Diversity Executive Director Kierán Suckling, and sign our pledge to save Oak Flat.


Petition
http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/o/2167/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17342


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