Black Friday Protest to Declare No More Desecration of Sacred Sites

11/25/11- Support the 10th anniversary of this gathering to protest the construction of Emeryville's Bay Street Mall atop a Sacred Ohlone Shellmound.
Last night, Occupy/Decolonize Oakland unanimously declared its solidarity with this annual action.


For Immediate Release: November 22, 2011
Contact: Corrina Gould
510-575-8408
shellmoundwalk [at] yahoo.com

November 25, 2011- 10th Anniversary of the Annual Black Friday Protest Against the Bay Street Mall: No More Desecration of Sacred Ohlone Shellmounds!

At 12 noon on Friday, November 25th Indigenous peoples and allies will gather at the Bay Street Mall to contest the continued desecration of sacred sites. This shopping center opened in 2000, amid massive controversy. It was erected atop one of the last remaining shellmounds- the traditional burial sites of the Ohlone people who are the original inhabitants of the Bay Area. With blatant disregard for the desires of the local Native community, developers and the City of Emeryville plowed ahead with construction of the mall and Indigenous peoples have since expressed their outrage annually on this busiest of shopping days.

This year, on the historic 10th anniversary of the event, the Occupy/Decolonize Oakland movement will be present to express their solidarity. In a unanimous vote last evening, the General Assembly endorsed the Black Friday protest, acknowledging the centuries of genocide that have taken place against the Native inhabitants of this land; the United States has, in fact, been ‘occupied’ for over 500 years. It is only through the recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples to have their sacred places accessible and intact that the historical injustices can begin to be addressed.

All are invited to join in this family-friendly event. Meet at the corner of Ohlone Way and Shellmound Street from 12 noon to 3:00pm to educate shoppers about the history of the mall and pay respects to the ancient burial ground upon which it sits.