Statements On Current Events

Here we will lists Oso Blanco's words on any events he wants to discuss....

May 2019 Sample Letters to support Indigenous Prisoners at USP Victorville....use Oso Blanco/Byron Chubbuck's name ONLY in letters to USP Victorville. All other letters keep it without his name. Thanks!

To Assistant Warden Martinez:
It has come to my attention that the recently arrived chaplain of USP Victorville, Chaplain Sadiq, has
been denying First Nation prisoners access to religious materials for their sweat ceremonies. Since
over a month before Covid19 measures, chaplain Sadiq has not been showing up to work on Tuesdays,
the day allotted for sweat ceremonies, to unlock the supply room for the natives. He has only provided
them treated wood, which is illegal to burn in California due to the release of toxic chemicals as a result
of its burning. Its ceremonial use is also strictly prohibited . After many attempts to address these issues,
chaplain Sadiq retaliated on May 15, by sending five corrections officers to take the ceremonial pipe from
the elected pipe carrier, Byron Chubbuck (also known as Oso Blanco/Yona Unega).
Although its exact meaning varies somewhat among tribes, the pipe’s tremendous ceremonial significance
cannot be overstated. Each part of the pipe and its ritual use—the bowl, the stem, the tobacco, the fire, the
breath—carries a deeper symbolic significance. Smoke from its use signifies the sacred prayers offered for
the well-being of all creation given physical form.
While I am writing to express this specific concern, I am also aware that this is not the first time that
native prisoners have been prevented from exercising their constitutionally protected and guaranteed
religious rights at this facility. I am, as are others, deeply disturbed by these events, especially in light of
the fact they’re gathering to pray for the well being of everyone affected by Covid19. Such willful neglect
places your facility in clear violation of both The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. Denial of ceremonial supplies to
indigenous prisoners also clearly violates precedents established by multiple Supreme Court cases
dealing specifically with the religious rights of incarcerated people, such as Cubero v. Burton and Chance
v. Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Perhaps more importantly, this violation of the rights of
incarcerated indigenous people is also a violation of basic human dignity and decency. As such, the pipe
carrier has been left no choice but to file federal civil suits regarding this matter.
Please do what is right and let the First Nations people at USP Victorville exercise their religious rights
and preserve their culture and heritage. Please allow them to pray for everyone affected by Covid19,
return the pipe, and encourage the chaplaincy to have more respect for incarcerated First Nations people.


Signed,
_______________________________________________________________________________

To Director Ragsdale:
It has come to my attention that the recently arrived chaplain of USP Victorville, Chaplain Sadiq, has been
denying First Nation prisoners access to religious materials for their sweat ceremonies. Since over a
month before Covid-19 measures were in place, chaplain Sadiq has not been showing up to work on
Tuesdays, the day allotted for sweat ceremonies, to unlock the supply room for the natives. He has only
provided them treated wood, which is illegal to burn in California. Its ceremonial use is also strictly
prohibited . After many attempts to address these issues, chaplain Sadiq retaliated on May 15, by
sending five corrections officers to take the ceremonial pipe from the elected pipe carrier.
Although its exact meaning varies somewhat among tribes, the pipe’s tremendous ceremonial significance
cannot be overstated. Each part of the pipe and its ritual use—the bowl, the stem, the tobacco, the fire, the
breath—carries a deeper symbolic significance. Smoke from its use signifies the sacred prayers offered
for the well-being of all creation given physical form.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Native prisoners have been prevented from exercising their
constitutionally protected and guaranteed religious rights at this facility. I am, as are others, deeply
disturbed by these events, especially in light of the fact they’re gathering to pray for the well being of
everyone affected by Covid-19. Such willful neglect places your facility in clear violation of both The
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons
Act of 2000. Denial of ceremonial supplies to indigenous prisoners violates precedents established by
multiple Supreme Court cases dealing with the religious rights of incarcerated people, such as Cubero v.
Burton and Chance v. Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Perhaps more importantly, this violation of
the rights of incarcerated indigenous people is also a violation of basic human dignity and decency. As
such, the pipe carrier has been left no choice but to file federal civil suits regarding this matter.
Please do what is right and let the First Nations people at USP Victorville exercise their religious rights.
Please allow them to pray for everyone affected by Covid-19, return the pipe, and encourage the
chaplaincy to have more respect for incarcerated First Nations people.

Signed,
_________________________________________________________________________________


August 2019
A Revolutionary’s Farewell: Rest in Power, Tom Manning
Brothers and Sisters of the Struggles:
I'm sad to learn I've lost a great and true Warrior Brother, Tom Manning, who left this earth only very
recently. He is free now. Dealing with our loss is not getting easier. The only positive way I can deal
with the loss of our great comrade is to think of his transition in those terms. Tom is free now, and it is
always better to be free.
I did three-and-a-half years with Tom in USP Leavenworth, where he and Leonard Peltier taught me to
paint with oils and schooled me on how I'd be treated horribly strictly due to my politically motivated
actions that landed me in prison. Tom taught me what to expect from this imperialist empire. I truly loved
this Brother Tom Manning, and also his brother Bob Manning who is still with us in New Mexico. Bob
always helps me, and stays in touch with me and my mother, Melody. 
We must stop wasting time, for these warriors laid the revolutionary foundation that the struggle lives
upon today. These people must not be left to rot in the hell holes of this empire. All of you need to get
your people out, and be for real, and put you comfort-zone toys away so you can put in the real work it
takes to the help men and women who have been locked up by the monsters of death and destruction
running this empire. Get your asses in fucking gear.
I say this to all in the struggle—every activist, every warrior, every anarchist: be for Super Real and
Powerful like Tom Manning and his co-defendants and start getting your actions rocking and rolling.
Waste no more time.


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