When Warriors were Warriors, Robert Free remembers Alcatraz to Wounded Knee

When Warriors were Warriors, Robert Free Remembers Alcatraz to Wounded Knee

As the Occupation of Alcatraz 50 year anniversary nears, Robert Free remembers the grassroots Warriors who stood courageously and willing to sacrifice their lives, from Alcatraz to the Trail of Broken Treaties and BIA takeover, to Wounded Knee. These resulted in far-reaching new laws and opportunities. Robert plans for his tipi that once stood on Alcatraz to now become a national site of historical significance.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
Photo: Robert Free (on left) with Sid Mills at Wounded Knee 1973

Nov. 19, 2019

ALCATRAZ -- Robert Free, whose tipi stood on the island during the Occupation of Alcatraz, said he's getting old and wants the youths to have the tipi and the site honored as a national monument.

Remembering his friends and fellow warriors, he names the names of those who stood, and risked their lives, from the Alcatraz Occupation to the Trail of Broken Treaties and BIA Takeover in Washington D.C., to Wounded Knee.

"The over one-thousand that went to the BIA takeover in 1972 and the thousand at Wounded knee 1973 set the bar for what movement is, not the academic discussions at conferences or peaceful civil rights protests we now see with the resulting cyber reports," Robert told Censored News.

"We accomplished it without cell phones and cyber funding, instead with 100 cars filled with six people each, across this country for a month. That's how we did it."

"We remember these veterans of frontline confrontation struggles because their names are not mentioned by so many that strive to shine off the glows of these warriors now passed.

"People always find inspiration and strength from their examples and it why we must shine through stories and monument their memory forever."

Robert remembered Richard Oakes, Raymond Lego, Mad Bear Anderson, Al Bridges, Mickey Gemmell, Darrel Wilson, Maiselle Bridges, Valerie Bridges, Alison Bridges, Janet McCloud, Don McCloud, the Hopi clan mothers, John Chiquiti, Eva Benson, Larry Casuse, Ross Montgomery, Charlie Buckskin, Mildred Montgomery, Peter Blue Cloud, Oohosis, Angel Martinez, Charlie Steelie, Charlie Cantrell, Willard Miner, Alice Papino, Charles 'Chuck' Conway, Audrey Shenandoah, Pedro Bissonette, Barry Cadwell, 70 killed after Wounded Knee at Pine Ridge, Frank Clear Water, Buddy Lamont, Mary Frank, Joseph Stuntz, Sid Mills, Peter Coyote, Cuny Dog, Russell Means, Carter Camp, Bob Satiacum, Helen near Pit River at Redding, California, during the Pit River struggles, to name a few who were on the front lines of confrontations for self determination and Indigenous rights.

During those years, many took risks to shelter them.

"Many women of the movement opened their homes as safe houses, Eldy Bratt, Mary Frank, Helen near Pit River, Mildred Montgomery, Marseille Bridges, Ramona Bennet, Janet McCloud, to name a few, whose homes allowed us to rest, replenish out bodies with great meals made with love and good thoughts. Our spirits nourished, we strategized and went out to make change! Remember them forever, the backbones of the movements."

Continue reading and view photos at Censored News: https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/11/when-warriors-were-warriors-robert-free.html