What
is justice? Is it a system where an overwhelming number of those arrested,
tried, and convicted all look very similar? NO. Is it a system where one man or
woman pays more for a similar crime than another because of what they look
like? NO. Is it a pattern of historically violating the human rights of those who
do not descend from Europeans? NO. Is it the quashing of the voices of those
who stand up and heroically work to change the world for the better? NO. No it
is not justice but it is injustice in the name of racism, and social and
political deconstruction of communities already ravaged by the scoundrels of
history.
And
today I cry out to you my righteous brother and sisters, take ownership of this
word justice. Explore the true meaning of the word not in some dictionary, but
in your hearts, your homes, your neighborhoods, your cities, and finally in
this country we live in. Express justice in every hall, and courthouse and
capitol from California to Maine, from Texas to Montana and all points in
between. Stand up together as one and show the authorities that justice is NOT
based on fear, it is NOT based on marginalization, it is NOT based on holding
down one to raise another, it is NOT about being afraid of our differences.
Justice, TRUE justice is about being my brother’s keeper. It is about forging a
common existence in the sight of the Creator as men and women living together,
toiling together, playing together, worshipping together, and governing
together without fear of being trampled on because of age old fears and
deceptions.
You
carry forth for those of us who cannot. Do not be afraid and do not grow weary.
Our spirits are with you in every word you speak and every step you take. Carry
on in the face of despair and sorrow and all that history has shown us. You are
the face of change this country and this world must have if we are to know real
justice and real harmony. I thank you. Thank you so much for your time, your
faith, your energy, and your voice. And please, save me a piece of birthday
cake for the day justice is served, and we are all free.
Mitakuye
Oyasin (We are all related).
In
the Spirit of Crazy Horse and Geronimo,
Leonard
Peltier