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Pompano Beach, FL
The Issue
AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT OF FLORIDA
136 4th Street North Suite 308
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
Email: AIMFL@aol.com
Web Page: http://members.aol.com/Aimfl
Contact: Sheridan Murphy or David Narcomey
at DNarcomey@aol.com
· For Immediate Release
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 10:35:49 EDT
Subject: Florida AIM blasts Broward County inaction on Grave site desecration
PRESS STATEMENT
FLORIDA AIM CRITICALLY CONCERNED OVER BROWARD COUNTY INACTION ON INDIGENOUS
GRAVESITE.
POMPANO BEACH, FL- The American Indian Movement of Florida (Florida AIM) is
deeply concerned by the continued, consistent and universal inaction by state
and local authorities to enforce a state law ostensibly created to provide
equal protection to Indigenous grave sites and cemeteries as those provided
to non-Indigenous grave sites and cemeteries.
On Tuesday April 30th construction workers in Pompano Beach uncovered the
human remains of an Indigenous person. In the only potentially respectful
action in this incident, the workers recovered the remains and continued
working. They however failed to notify the authorities. Two days later a city
inspector who heard about the find notified the Broward County Sheriffs
Office. The Broward County Sheriffs Office and Broward County State
Attorney's Office cavalierly decided not to investigate the failure to
provide information, let alone prosecute the misdemeanor offense.
In contrast, less than six months ago the full resources of the Broward
County authorities were brought to bear to investigate the grotesque
desecration of graves at the Menorah Gardens, ironically also in Pompano
Beach. Federal and state authorities rushed to condemn the actions and call
for action.
Yet Indigenous cemeteries and graves are routinely pillaged, desecrated and
the remains and artifacts found sold in the open at flea markets and on the
internet auction site E-Bay with silence as a response from local, state, and
federal officials. In 1994 neighbors in Hudson, FL videotaped a man digging
into a known and marked Indigenous cemetery. The man was videotaped removing
human remains and objects of cultural patrimony. Florida AIM demanded an
investigation and provided an additional four (4) eyewitness affidavits from
people living near the mound. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's office
stated there was not enough evidence to prosecute. In 2000 Mr. Marty Goodrich
was caught removing human skeletal remains from the Cape Canaveral National
Seashore. A federal judge fined Mr. Goodrich the grand total of $50.00, the
value the judge placed on the skeletal remains removed. The state of Florida
refused to file charges for violations of the state's unmarked human burial
act. The self-proclaimed Cotton Bottom Militia is known throughout the
panhandle of Florida for their prolific desecrations and pilfering of
Indigenous gravesites and cemeteries with impunity from investigation, let
alone prosecution. And now the Broward County Sheriffs refused to file
charges against construction workers for the misdemeanor violation of failing
to report the disturbance, however unintentional, of an Indigenous
grave/cemetery as required under Florida State Statute 872.05(10)(b).
Florida became a leader in 1986 with the passage of the Unmarked burial law
to provide equal protection to Indigenous cemeteries/grave sites. Yet this
law has become a laughable example of hypocrisy and inaction. There is no
equal protection of Indigenous grave sites/cemeteries in the state of Florida
as evidenced by actions taking place a few miles and less than six months
apart. The state moved swiftly, decisively and with full involvement of local
and even federal authorities to protect a non-Indigenous cemetery and
prosecute those responsible for the desecrations. Righteous outcry was heard
statewide from government officials to the local media. Yet when Indigenous
graves/cemeteries are desecrated intentionally or unintentionally by
developers, construction workers, and grave robbers there is a consistent and
universal cavalier disregard for following the state's own law-just as there
was this week in Broward County.
Florida AIM calls upon the Broward County State Attorney and Broward County
Sheriffs Office to review and reverse their decision not to file misdemeanor
charges in this case. Florida AIM can no longer tolerate the continued,
consistent and universal inaction by state and local authorities to provide
equal protections to Indigenous grave sites/cemeteries throughout Florida. We
will take all legal and direct actions to protect Indigenous grave
sites/cemeteries from these actions and call upon state authorities to do the
same or face the consequences.
-30-
Relevant News:
Ocean Boulevard opened after bones excavated (2002 May 3)
Workers uncover possible Native American bones under A1A in Pompano (2002 May 2)
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