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For Immediate Release – NEWS RELEASE **Indigenous Peoples Challenge Chief of Police to Act with Compassion and Professionalism* Eight police cars surrounded the walkers as the group walked into the parking lane and up onto the sidewalk of Main Street. A police officer approached a vehicle providing support to walkers, reached into the window and grabbed the steering wheel. The police officer yelled at the young woman driving a carload of young children and threatened to place the children in Child Protective Services. As dozens of police hastily approached the walkers, Michael Lane (Menominee) was targeted by police with a taser, which was held three feet away from Lane's head in front of his wife and young daughter. Taser Guns are supposed to be aimed away from the head and towards major muscle groups. Luv the Mezenger, who acted as road safety for the walkers, was physically assaulted and thrown to the ground and handcuffed. Luv has been a peacekeeper on the walk since departing on February 11th and walked over a stretch of the Sierra Nevada Mountains on snowshoes. Michael Lane, a veteran walker from the 1978 Longest walk arrived on the walk with his wife, Sharon Heta, Tuhoe (Maori Tribal Nation), and their children from New Zealand approximately two months ago. Across the continent, police-induced deaths from tasers have dramatically increased from overzealous police brutality. Luv suffered minor injuries from the police attack. Police made no arrests. As the walkers have endured the natural elements, they have walked through the snow, extreme rain,straight-line winds, blazing heat, lightning storms and near misses by tornadoes. Often tired, hungry, thirsty and sore, they have been peacefully accepted into Native and Non-Native communities, and this is the first experience of extreme police harassment.
www.mytown.ca/garger Cathy Garger is a freelance writer, public speaker, activist, and a certified personal coach who specializes in Uranium weapons. Living in the shadow of the national District of Crime, Cathy is constantly nauseated by the stench emanating from the nation's capital during the Washington, DC, federal work week.
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