A supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders attends a town hall meeting on thePine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota on May 12, 2016. Photo from Minnehaha County Democratic Party / Facebook
Leon Thompson (Chippewa), the co-founder of East County Magazine, praise Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders for tackling Indian issues during his campaign:
When Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders spoke in San Diego, he said, among other others, “This campaign is about the Native Americans.“ I don’t think I’ve ever heard a politician even talk about Indians let alone include them in his race for President. Should I be happy that someone is at least talking about the 566 tribes? We are a mere 1.6 % of the voting population. Of course, we know that only a third of all Indians live on reservations. We are many urban Indians. And we vote. I am no stranger to what Bernie Sanders stands for. I’m one of those committed political animals that tunes in to C-SPAN and watches politics live. Bernie is a powerhouse in Congress. He has been for years. He was on the short side of the vote but many would say on the right side of history on issues including the Vietnam War, the Patriot Act and the Wall Street bailout--often one of only a handful of dissenting votes, taking courageous stands. “When I am President I will begin a new relationship with the Nations as one sovereign to another sovereign nation. We will honor our treaties and agreement,” he has pledged now, during his presidential candidacy. I looked it up and for 35 years he has voted to uphold sovereignty for the Nations--in spite of the fact that he is from Vermont a State that has not one Reservation or casino. Is he pandering to Indians or does he really care?Get the Story:
Leon Thompson: BERNIE SANDERS STANDS UP FOR NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS AT THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION COMMUNITY MEETING (East County Magazine 5/15) Also Today:
Reno Berkeley: Sanders Draws Crowds in Montana & Dakotas, Says US Must Change Relationship With Native American Tribes (The Inquisitr 5/15)
Bernie Sanders Met With Native Americans To Discuss Poverty & Here’s Why This Matters (The Frisky 5/14)
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