Obama wants courts to resolve Freedmen dispute

Friday, May 9, 2008  

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois), the leading Democratic presidential candidate, says Congress shouldn't intervene in the Cherokee Freedmen dispute.

Obama said he doesn't support the Cherokee Nation's ouster of the Freedmen, who are the descendants of former African slaves. But he said Congress should wait for the courts to resolve the issue.

"Discrimination anywhere is intolerable, but the Cherokee are dealing with this issue in both tribal and federal courts," Obama said in a statement. "As it stands, the rights of the Cherokee Freedmen are not being abrogated because there is an injunction in place that ensures the Freedman's rights to programs during the pendency of the litigation."

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are trying to cut off funds to the Cherokee Nation until the Freedmen are restored to citizenship. Obama is a member of the caucus.

Obama lost the Democratic primary in Oklahoma to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York). The Cherokee Nation is the second-largest tribe in the U.S.

Get the Story:
Obama weighs in against CBC legislation on Cherokees (The Hill 5/9)

Cherokee-Related Legislation:
H.R.2786 | H.R.2895 | H.R.2824 | H.R.3002

BIA Letters:
August 9, 2007 | July 11, 2007 | June 22, 2007 | May 21, 2007 | March 28, 2007 | August 30, 2006

Sovereign Immunity Court Decision:
Vann v. Kempthorne (December 19, 2006)

Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)

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Appeals court hears Cherokee Freedmen dispute (5/7)
Appeals court to hear Cherokee Freedmen case (5/6)
Campbell: Congress destroying the Cherokee Nation (5/2)
Artman's tenure marked by Freedmen dispute (4/30)
Artman resigns after a year as head of BIA (4/29)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation's boat of federal funds (4/25)
Cherokee Freedmen dispute a threat to NAHASDA (4/24)
Opinion: The history of the Cherokee Freedmen (4/23)
Rep. Frank backs Freedmen in Cherokee funding fight (4/22)
Freedmen issue weighs heavy on Capitol Hill (4/14)
Tim Giago: CBC goes after Cherokee Nation (4/14)
Cherokee tribes denounce Freedmen legislation (4/10)
Cherokee chief to address Freedmen at conference (4/7)
Black lawmakers press Senate on Freedmen (4/4)
Cherokee Freedmen dispute up for hearing (3/27)
Opinion: Being Cherokee more than the blood (3/26)
Lawmakers press Artman on Freedmen issues (3/19)
Freedmen protest outside of Rep. Boren's office (3/3)
Black lawmakers to meet with Artman over Freedmen (1/23)