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Indians plan camp at Iowa capitolDES MOINES (UPI)— A Midwest Indian leader said Wednesday he is organizing an encampment in the Iowa S t a t ehouse to “sensitize” Gov. Robert I). Hay to the living conditions of poor people in Iowa.Hon Petite, director of the Midwest office of the American Indian Movement (AIM), said he has contacted leaders of Indian and poor people's organizations to generate support for the planned camp-in at the Statehouse Thursday.He said the action is necessary because Hay is ‘‘so unconcerned that he doesn't even know the conditions under which *the poor and Indians live in Iowa ’ Petitesaid the governor “doesn’t know anything about poor people” and that the camp-in will give Hay a first hand chance to see poor Indians.Petite’s decision to hold the encampment, with a vow to stay until Hay recognizes AIM demands for better treatment of the poor and Indians, cameabout one hour after a face-to-face confrontation between Petite and Hay.“This governor is unsensitized,” Petite said. “We are going to fill the capitol building with poor people so that he cansee them.”Petite said he has discussed the situation with leaders of the Indian and poor people’s organizations throughout Iowa.“They have been told to only bring sleeping bags because the governor will have to supply the food for us. They have a cafeteria up there (at the S t a t ehouse) and the state can feed us,” he said.Petite said he was angered by Hay’s alleged refusal to consider several AIM recommendations designed to ensure humane treatment of Indian inmates in the state’s penal system. Petite said he was especially concerned about the situationinvolving a Tama in a n, Preston Duncan, whose bond has been set at $100,000 in a murder case.Petite said the bond was “excessive” and has resulted in mental cruelty for Preston Duncan. ”After the meeting in H a y’s office, Petite said the governor is “not sympathic about I n d ians. He has his Lincoln Continentals and $75,000 house and just can t relate to the poor people or the Indians.” However, Hay’s press secretary, Hichard Gilbert, said Petite kept interrupting the governor during the meeting and was seeking a provoked confrontation.” Gilbert said Petite was “apparently trying to stir up the situation and excite people. ”The press secretary said Hay has “never tried to avoid a meeting with these people. Most other governors wouldn't even take the time to meet w i t hthem .” Ironically, the governor drew praise from state and local AIM leaders last spring when he personally intervened to help an Indian woman in Marne when her family was allegedly harassed by localresidents.Petite said, however, that the governor now “doesn’t want to listen to complaints. He o n 1 y wanted to throw in statistics. If a rich white guy was arrested, he d get a $5,000 bond rather than a $100,000 bond. The governor just believes that w h i t e isright.”“He’s in an altogether different world,” said Petite. “T h e biggest failure is that the governor isn’t even listening to us. he'schallenging.”Petite said he was also concerned about the treatment of Indians in the penal institutions-
Newspaper Details
Washington Evening Journal
Washington, Iowa, US
Thu, Aug 16, 1973
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Johnathan B.
IA, USA 29 Mar 2018
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