Cherokee shake off the freedmen

[shesulsa]

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Cherokee Nation vote to revoke the citizenship of the descendants of people the Cherokee once owned as slaves was a blow to people who have relied on tribal benefits.

*snip*

In Saturday’s special election, more than 76 percent of voters decided to amend the Cherokee Nation’s constitution to remove the estimated 2,800 freedmen descendants from the tribal rolls, according to results posted Sunday on the tribe’s Web site.

Marilyn Vann, president of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes, said the election results undoubtedly will be challenged.


“We will pursue the legal remedies that are available to us to stop people from not only losing their voting rights, but to receiving medical care and other services to which they are entitled under law,” Vann said Sunday.


“This is a fight for justice to stop these crimes against humanity.”

Link to full article.

 

[tellner]

Almost exactly the same logic used by the South against the descendants of its former slaves. Next time I hear "Trail of Tears" I'm going to laugh cruelly and uproariously.

The Seminoles tried a similar stunt. The US government did the right thing and said "Fine, but you won't be getting any BIA money and you can't set up casinos." The Seminoles came around so fast they almost tripped over themselves. One can only hope the Feds will be as wise this time.