Department of California Transportation attempting to halt Longest Walk Northern Route
UPDATE:
California Department of Transportation issued the permit and the Longest Walk northern route continues!
Thanks to all of you for your quick response. The highway use permit for the Longest Walk Northern Route was issued by the California Department of Transportation Friday afternoon, for the runners and walkers on the highway.
By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
http://www.earthcycles.net/
Friday, Feb. 15, 2008
SHINGLE SPRINGS, Calif. – The Longest Walk 2 Northern Route is combating an attempt by the California Department of Transportation to stop the sacred walk.
Jimbo Simmons, coordinator for the Longest Walk 2 northern route, said the California Department of Transportation is attempting to halt the walk now leaving Shingle Springs and heading east.
“We’re going to walk today, even if we are going to be arrested,” Simmons said on the live northern route broadcast on www.earthcycles.net/ from Shingle Springs Miwok Nation. "They can't stop us."
“We have permission. Grandfather Creator has given us the permission,” Simmons said. “We’re going to do it. If we have to walk over the mountain, we are going to do it.”
Simmons asked people to call Julio Elvir, chief officer on permits, 530-741-4403, and demand that permission be given for the sacred walk to continue through California to Nevada.
“Every step is a prayer,” Simmons said. The walkers are now being joined by long distance runners. “In time of need, we call our runners."
Simmons said the sacred walk is underway because of the issue of survival for Mother Earth, to halt the destruction of the Earth, and for the continuance of the sacred way of life of Indigenous Peoples.
“This is a continuation of this 500 year struggle. The Longest Walk is one way of making those views known,” Simmons said.
When the first walk departed Alcatraz in 1978, Congress was attempting to abrogate treaties. While some progress was made, the struggle continues as is obvious today in the attempts by California to halt the sacred walk.
Today, Friday, Feb. 15, young Miwok runners, including a group of fifth graders assisting with the sacred ceremonies, will run toward the snowline at the summit.
“We are in prayer. All of this land is our temple,” Simmons said as runners gathered at noon.
Please call the Department of Transportation and demand that the Longest Walk be given permission to proceed without arrest.
--Brenda Norrell, on the northern route
brendanorrell@gmail.com
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