Standing Deer Remembered -- a report on the memorial to Standing Deer
1-26-03
by Ken Freeland • Sunday January
26, 2003 at 04:29 PM
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
A short report on the memorial held for murdered Native American activist
Standing Deer on 26 January 2003 in Southwest Houston.
Standing Deer Remembered
A packed crowd of family, friends and admirers of Standing Deer attended
the memorial held in his honor at the Miller Funeral Home in Southwest
Houston. One-by-one, people he had touched with his wisdom and love stood
before the mourners to recall with great fondness the man each described
as one of the happiest men on earth. As the sweet smell of burning sage
wafted through the air, his family members and many friends recalled his
continual smiling, laughter, joke-telling and story-telling. Also
testified to was Standing Deer's monumental example and courage in the
face of the oppression of the prison system, and his fearlessness in
breaking with the people who were setting him up to take part in Leonard
Peltier's assassination, despite what this would mean in terms of the
length of his prison stay, and his treatment while there. This riveting
story, as recounted by Standing Deer, was read aloud to the audience, and
a frisson of awe swept the room at this electrifying report of this man's
fortitude in the face of such powerful pressure.
Standing Deer, reported those closest to him, had vowed not to die till
Leonard Peltier was released from prison. So clearly he is still with us,
and will not truly rest until Leonard is free. Leonard was notified of
Standing Deer's brutal murder, but as luck would have it, had run out of
allotted telephone minutes and was unable to communicate his statement
from prison.
Speakers agreed that the best tribute to pay to Standing Deer would be
the continuation of the struggle to free Leonard Peltier. For more
information on the local Houston effort to free Leonard, contact Jac at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
The loss of Standing Deer is a deep one for the progressive community.
But the struggle for Peltier's release will only grow stronger from it.
As someone very close to Standing Deer said at the conclusion of the
memorial (in a Native American language): "We are all related."
add your comments
i wish i was there
by jackson allers • Monday January
27, 2003 at 08:17 PM
i was so disappointed that i wasn't told about the wake. what little
contact i had with standing deer wilson was powerful. what i have come to
know about him in his death is astounding. he was a true warrior for
justice. may we all remember him and take his spirit with us when times
get tough in the fight for justice in all it's forms.
http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/7018.php
