Vaillancourt Murphy noted that the Navajo Nation opposes Mitchell’s execution and that the “federal government has used a legal loophole to pursue his death sentence … sidestepping the Navajo Nation’s aversion to the use of capital punishment.”. It has yet to undergo review and consideration by members of the Navajo Nation Council. The federal Department of Justice ignored the request. Catholic Mobilizing Network organized a virtual prayer vigil the afternoon of Aug. 26 where hundreds prayed for Mitchell, his victims, their loved ones, and all those impacted by his execution. Teec Nos Pos to the Apache County recorder (211 miles) also took six days. A family member of the victims participated in the vigil, which was led in part by Bishop James S. Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, the diocese where Mitchell's crime was committed. He was 20 at the time and acted alongside a teenager who did not receive the same sentence. Catholic Standard It is believed that the Navajo and the Apache communities migrated from eastern Alaska and Northwestern Canada where several other Athabaskan speakers reside. In 1994, the Federal Death Penalty Act gave tribal governments a say about their citizens receiving the death penalty, but the legislation has exceptions. Navajo Nation, reeling from coronavirus, focuses attention on elections The tribe is on the road back from being hit hard by coronavirus. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. But we still want your feedback. Learn more here. Last year, the Justice Department announced it was resuming federal executions that had been put on hold for the past 17 years. Mail from Teec Nos Pos travels 917 miles to get to the recorder vs. 35 miles for largely white Scottsdale, the lawsuit says. It is sinful, and it is totally unacceptable.”. In this case, the federal government did not need the Navajo Nation’s permission to pursue the death penalty because the charge of “carjacking resulting in death” is considered to have “nationwide applicability” and can be charged as federal crime no matter where it takes place. Angelus News Sep 29 Navajo Nation Council approves up to $1,500 in coronavirus hardship assistance for enrolled Navajo tribal members, up to $500 for children. Before you can comment, you need to update your profile to include your first and last name, as required in our. Vaillancourt Murphy noted that the Navajo Nation opposes Mitchell's execution and that the "federal government has used a legal loophole to pursue his death sentence ... sidestepping the Navajo Nation's aversion to the use of capital punishment.". Your source for jobs, books, retreats, and much more. ", She also tweeted that the "federal government should not be allowed to unilaterally pursue the death penalty for crimes that occur in Indian Country. In a statement about the most recent execution and ones coming up, two U.S. archbishops released a statement Aug. 27 saying: "The church's opposition to the death penalty is clear, and we have made many requests that the federal government should not resume these executions.". This Election is More Important Than Ever: Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter. Jeannie Gaffigan: My loved ones told me ‘real’ Catholics vote for Trump. Why am I being asked to create an account? Mitchell was convicted for the 2001 carjacking and stabbing deaths of a Navajo woman and her 9-year-old granddaughter. This is a serious tribal sovereignty issue that must be addressed.". The federal Department of Justice ignored the request. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn) Catholic leaders joined their voices with members of the Navajo Nation in opposition to the Aug. 26 execution of Lezmond Mitchell, the only Native American on federal death row. We therefore condemn murder and abhor the crimes committed in this case. “The federal government’s planned execution of Mr. Mitchell violates the Navajo Nation’s cultural values, serves as a manifestation of the racial oppression inflicted upon Native Americans for centuries in the United States and devalues the sacred dignity of human life,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network. Lezmond Mitchell, a member of the Navajo Nation, is scheduled to be executed Aug. 26, 2020, for crimes committed on a reservation. A family member of the victims participated in the vigil, which was led in part by Bishop James S. Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, the diocese where Mitchell's crime was committed. “The federal government’s planned execution of Mr. Mitchell violates the Navajo Nation’s cultural values, serves as a manifestation of the racial oppression inflicted upon Native Americans for centuries in the United States and devalues the sacred dignity of human life,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network. The Navajo Nation covers 14 million acres across New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. There was only one Native American juror. As the Covid-19 pandemic lingers across the nation, mail-in voting is at an all-time high, putting an extra burden on postal and election officials scrambling to figure out how to deal with hundreds of millions of ballots. A letter written by Seth Damon, Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, said: "Our justice system is based on life -- iiná -- that is sacred and must be protected. In a Twitter thread, she pointed out that at the time of Mitchell’s trial, “the Navajo Department of Justice asked federal prosecutors not to seek the death penalty because capital punishment violates tribal custom and culture. Determine whether your ancestors are on an official tribal roll or census (the original list of tribal members listed in the Navajo constitution) by contacting the National Archives and Records Administration or the Tribal Enrollment branch of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Wade's poetry and short fiction have appeared in "The Frequent and Vigorous Quarterly" and "The Litter Box Magazine." Catholics pray for Navajo man scheduled for federal execution, Tikuna deacon prepares to become first priest from Amazonian tribe, Setting of execution dates for federal death-row prisoners denounced. Thank you. We cannot guarantee a response from any author.
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