News Press
Santa Barbara, California
Sunday February 12, 1978
Cross Country
[AP Laserphoto, not shown here, captioned:]
Indian Leaders, from left, Max Bear of South Dakota, Chief Eagle
Feather of Rosebud, S.D., and Dennis Banks discuss anti-Indian
legislation before the ceremonial peace pipe on Alcatraz Island.
[photo description: Banks is pointing off into the distance standing
on grassy knoll, with the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge
in background, in front of banner showing image of the sacred pipe
overlaid on North and South American continents with words
American Indian Coalition being held up by a couple of folks in shade]
----begin retyped article text:
Indians begin protest march
San Francisco (UPI) -- The first day of a six-month American
Indian Movement protest march to Washington started yesterday
with a peace pipe ceremony on Alcatraz -- the former prison
island held by Indian demonstrators for two and a half years.
Under crystal clear skies, 341 Indians, some in tribal dress,
most in blue jeans, kicked off their protest of congressional
legislation that they contend is anti-Indian.
A peace pipe was passed, a medicine man spoke and drums
were beat on the island that a band of Indians occupied
from November 1968 until June 1971, when they were
evicted by federal marshals.
The former top security prison, abandoned by the federal
government in 1963, is now a top tourist attraction.
The actual walk started in Sacramento, following a rally
near the state capitol, where Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally
and activist Tom Hayden, among others, appeared.
Twenty-four Indians plan to make the 3,000-mile trip
from Sacramento to Washington, but they will be
joined by supporters along the way.
Fugitive American Indian movement leader Dennis Banks
said he can go only as far as the California-Nevada border
in the trek dubbed "the longest walk."
Banks is wanted in South Dakota for sentencing on his
conviction for assault with a deadly weapon during
the 1973 Custer County courthouse riot.
Gov. Brown so far has refused to honor South Dakota's
request for Bank's extradition and the case is currently
before the Supreme Court.
The Indians' march is designed to draw attention to
legislation in Congress they contend will hurt their
cause. One of the bills, termed the "Native American
Equal Opportunity Act," is authored by Rep. Jack
Cunningham, R-Wash.