Dennis Banks Issues a State of War Declaration between AIM and Drugs; Will Lead Longest Walk 5 – War on Drugs
Dennis Banks (left) leads Longest Walk 3 – Reversing Diabetes to the White House in July 2011. Photo by Levi Rickert
Published September 5, 2015
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —Dennis Banks, co-founder of the American Indian Movement, has announced he will lead the “Longest Walk 5 – War on Drugs,” along a three-thousand mile route from California to Washington, D.C.
“Because of the extremely high rate of suicides, and other drug-related deaths, I am issuing a state of war declaration between the American Indian Movement and drugs across America. The deaths are at a pandemic stage,” stated Banks in a news release issued on Thursday from Grand Rapids.
The Longest Walk 5 – War on Drugs will begin on February 13, 2016 in La Jolla, California and end in Washington, DC on July 15, 2016.
“Today, I announce a walk across America to draw attention to and seek guidance on drug-related issues that are causing devastation on Indian reservations and communities in the United States,” stated Banks, who has been involved in several Longest Walks since 1978.
The Longest Walk 5 – War on Drugs will visit several American Indian reservations and communities as it makes its way to Washington, DC. At various stops, Banks will meet with tribal officials and other American Indians involved in substance abuse issues in Indian Country.
Orlando Vigil will serve as the national coordinator of the Longest Walk 5 – War on Drugs.
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About The Author
Editor
Levi Rickert, a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is the publisher and editor of Native News Online. Previously, he served as editor of the Native News Network. He is a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
They don’t call it dope for nothing. http://wisdom-sa.blogspot.com/2013/06/they-dont-call-it-dope-for-nothing.html
Great..chronic pain patients like myself and millions of others whose only chance at any quality of life is controlling our debilitating conditions with pain medication and who are already suffering for the small percentage who choose to abuse these medications are once again not even a consideration. Do you know how many suicides there are due to people no longer being able to have access to these life saving medications and choose to end their lives because the pain is so bad that we’d rather end our lives than live every second of the day with pain so bad we just can’t take one more second, minute or day with it. These suicides are not reported nor do they matter to those hell bent on making it so difficult to obtain on time, legal prescriptions that we have no other option. Always punish the majority for the failings of the minority. If someone is addicted to drugs it’s not going to matter what drugs you try to get rid of, they will find another drug on the streets. Why do you think heroin use is on the rise?? Because legitimate cancer, hospice, chronic pain patients and even those just out of a major surgery can no longer get the necessary medications to ease their suffering!! Our right to quality of life is just as important as those that choose to abuse them, yet we are the ones that pay the price for other’s wrong doing.
I certainly hope they are not against healing Cannabis medicine… And bear in mind , what causes drug addiction is NOT drugs…. But poverty and trauma
When our People are free of the chains of addiction to drugs and alcohol, then we will rise as the Eagle once again to triumph as a People over this land the Great Spirit has given us. In reply to Okoneski, medicine is certainly different than drug abuse. Everything the Great Spirit made has a purpose for good. It’s only when we abuse its purpose that harm is done.
Where in La Jolla, please? I live there. I’d like to be there. I know many of the local reservations very well. If there is anything I can do to drum up more support. Let me know. I know everyone here.
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I’m sure their talking about Meth and any Bad stuff that ruins yourself, family and community. Not the Healing medicines that aren’t abused or destructive.