Violence Against Native Peoples

[tosawii]

The Following happened in Nevada in May of this Year, it is still being investigated, and is what Natives go through around Reservations, where Natives are targeted easily cause of being Identified with their unique features of being either Full-blood and down to being registered 1/4 bloods, and not of being what is commonly known as a passer.
This is not to be considered an attack on any one pesron, just something that is factual and happens commonly around Rez border towns

Johnny and Lisa Bonta, a Native family from the Reno Sparks Indian Colony, became the latest victims of a hate crime on May 24 when they were attacked at a gas station along I-80 in Fernley, Nevada, a border town between the Fallon and Pyramid Lake Indian reservations.

“I was pumping gas at Quick Stop on our way to Reno to look for another job when these skinheads in a blue car drove by real slow and checked us out. The driver jumped out with a baseball bat, and I asked them ‘why you holding a bat?†said Bonta. “He said ‘let’s do this’ and tried to pick a fight. I don’t know how to explain what happened—we didn’t do anything to them.â€Â

Bonta, a Paiute member of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony, tried to avoid the confrontation by telling them he didn’t want to fight. He got back in the car, with his son-in-law Shane Murray at the wheel, and they quickly drove away with the carload of skinheads in close pursuit.

As they approached the freeway ramp, they were cut off as the blue car swerved in front of them, then slammed on the brakes, causing Murray to crash into it. Murray said he recognized one of the attackers as Jacob Cassell, a former classmate and son of retired Lyon County Sheriff officer Jim Cassell.

“They all jumped out of the car with baseball bats, knives and a crowbar, and we knew they were going to hurt us,†said Lisa Bonta, in an interview from Washoe Medical Center, where she was in treatment for seizures she suffers.

The fight broke out on the highway after 1 p.m. and while traffic was passing by, no one would stop to help them. Lisa and her daughter, Alyssa, were terrified watching the brutal and fight as her unarmed husband and son-in-law tried to fight off the three young men in their 20s.

“I saw one of them hit my husband in the head with a bat, and the other one was trying to cut off his braid with a knife. Johnny was covered in blood and they just kept hitting him with a crow bar. They even tried to slit his throat,†she added.

“Jacob Cassell had my son-in-law on the ground in a chokehold and Shane was turning blue. My daughter was sobbing ‘they’re killing him’ and somehow she found the strength to hit Jacob in self-defense so he would release Shane.â€Â

It was then, Lisa said, that Cassell turned his anger on her and her daughter, jumping on the hood of their car while swinging a baseball bat and cursing at them.

“I’m a 46 year-old woman with serious health problems, and I tried to defend myself, but he hit me across the lower back with his bat, calling us ‘niggers and river monsters,†said Lisa, who is Anglo. “He pointed at Alyssa and said he would her the next time he saw her in Fernley, where she lives.â€Â

Meanwhile, Johnny Bonta was knocked unconscious with a bat, his nose and sinus cavities broken and bleeding, with stab wounds on his neck.

Lisa said Jacob Cassell taunted the family as the sirens approached, telling them, “You hear those cops coming? They’re not going to help you. My daddy is a cop in this town, and nothing is going to happen to me. You ----ing niggers are going to jail.â€Â

When Lyon County Sheriff’s officers arrived, they took statements and began filling out police reports with Cassell and his friends, but they did not take statements from any of the victims. When Lisa asked why they were not being questioned for a statement, no one responded. “They ignored us,†she said, before she suffered a seizure and required medical attention.

Three ambulances responded to the scene and took Lisa, Alyssa and Murray away for treatment; Murray’s injuries included a crushed elbow and broken hand.

Johnny Bonta, and barely standing after being hit in the knees with a bat, was arrested on the scene and taken to jail. He said he was not allowed medical treatment for six days while he was in the county jail, all the while uncertain about what charges had been filed against him.

Assuming he was on his way to the hospital, Lisa Bonta had no idea her husband had been arrested. She finally located her husband in jail after calling other facilities repeatedly, and was very upset that he was not given medical treatment for his extensive injuries.

“I asked them to tell me what charges he was being held on and no one would say. They said they gave him the information, but he can’t read or write, so I needed to find out. At first they said there was a bench warrant for an unpaid $367 fine, and when we made arrangements to pay that, they charged him with battery with a deadly weapon, even though it was those boys who had the weapons. The booking papers say we owe $30,367.00. â€Â

Lisa Bonta is outraged that their attackers were all released at the scene of the crime and were not charged despite the fact they bragged about it on Facebook on May 24, the day of the attack.

Two hours after attacking the Bontas, Josh Janiszewski of Fernley wrote, “Just laid the fists and boots to some 6′ 5†tongan dude. what you got on little guys?†at 3:13 p.m. When asked if they gave them hell, Josh responded. “Oh we did. That’s for sure!†at 3:48 p.m. “Amen,†said Jacob Cassell at 4:07 p.m.

Jacob’s mother Dee Cassell also commented, “So…who has blood? You guys need to come home to mom?†at 4:48 p.m. She later added that she gave them First Aid. “Better have ur asses at home after I did 1st aid. Don’t piss off women – they r worse than men!†she wrote at 8:00 p.m.

When asked if they got “some good licks†in, Josh said, “sent em to the hospital, they got ----ed up man, thats for sure.â€Â

Meanwhile, Johnny Bonta stayed behind bars while Lisa and her family called the jail each day, asking if Johnny had been treated for his injuries. No one would tell her his condition. One morning, she says a surly guard told her “he’ll have to get his Indian doctor if he wants treatment,†then ---- up on her.

Lisa appealed to the Reno Spark Indian Colony and said she was able to get two Indian Health Service doctors to agree to visit Johnny in jail, but was told by jail officials that could not be allowed. It was not until tribal police pursued Johnny’s release that he was finally released after six days and was able to see a doctor.

The family also lost their car following the attack. The Bontas could not locate their car after the Lyon County Sheriff’s office had it towed from the scene. When Lisa called to ask about their car, she was told the police had no information. She found the car two weeks later in a small towing yard, tires flattened and in need of repair. Since Johnny has not been able to work, they cannot afford to pay the impoundment fees or have it repaired. They are now walking to all of their medical appointments in Reno. The situation has created great hardship for them and their children.

“We lost everything as a result of this attack, and now we’re homeless since we can’t go back to Fernley,†said Lisa. “The FBI took our statement last week and we know they got a copy of the video from the gas station parking lot. We are asking for a full investigation into this hate crime.â€Â

The Bontas said since this happened, at least four other Native families have told them they too were harassed and attacked by skinheads in nearby border towns. But people told her they don’t report the incidents because they don’t believe police will help them. These follow an April 2010 attack on Vincent Kee, Navajo, in Farmington, New Mexico, where three men took Kee from a McDonald’s and shaved a swastika symbol on the back of his head and branded him with the symbol using a coat hanger.

“Someone could have died that day,†said Lisa, “and the only reason this happened is because my husband and son-in-law have brown skin. We have a 10-year-old daughter, and I have to speak out about what happened for her sake. I just don’t understand why these young boys think they have the right to randomly beat others. We have to put a stop to this kind of behavior.â€Â

Lisa also said they are hiring an attorney. “I want the police to know they can’t deny people medical treatment just because they feel like it. Johnny could have died from a head injury, and they violated his civil rights. They should be held accountable.â€Â


Tosawii

[patsydecline (deleted)]

`Jesus Effing christ. This REALLY pisses me off. I have a serious urge to pick up the phone and give someone an earful, but who? This is like Alabama during Jim Crow! Goddammit! I'm posting this article to facebook. I hope it goes viral.

[thescorpioqueen (deleted)]

`Skinheads are so freakin prejudice =o[

[lovemecka]

[deleted]

[softroses08]

``Hello I just wanted to share with you all about my experience with those silly S.O.B. skinhead's It was during the o.J. trail When they found him not guilty. I was on my way home and a group of four skinhead pass by me and holler out the window something at me as I drove on They speed up and block the street with their car. Got out with a gun in hand and told me that they was going to shot me for this lady that O. J was suppose to kill They said one for one I had my three kids in the car with me I slam on the brakes and now I am in the middle of the street a open target They pointed the gun in my direction and that is when another car came on the other side and they got into their car and drove away I was scare but piss off I did however got a very good description of them and the car even down to the license plate, I went home immediately and phone the police. now get this the police are up and down this same street all the time it near a major highway and to this date no one never got back with me and I never heard if they were caught . I think that this is a crime on all races although I am mix This kind of S.H, I, T should not be swept under the rugs People should come together and March Just. Like they do to get their point across. Something should be done about this . These Silly Mother F--kkers will not stop until they succeed in killing some one day... They make me sick to my very soul. I got no love for this kind of beast who pray on someone just because they are difference.

[duane51 (deleted)]

`If we strike back, we will be no different than those skinheads... I was really pissed and my first response was why didn't members of the tribe take the skinheads for a walk behind some building and beat the crap outta them. I think our best bet is to get as many signitures on that petiton as possible and let the FBI handle it so more pinnocent people don't get hurt.

[softroses08]

`Please let me know where this petition is been held at and how do I go about getting my name on it and if needed I can start one here and sent it to who hands it will do some good for the cause. This should not be over look .The year is 2011 not 1911 Just so sick of this kind of madness.

[gailirish (deleted)]

`My God, this really pisses me off too! Damn freaks, I do not and will not ever understand mankinds violence! And cops stupidy my god again! With me it was LA cops, they are snitches truly, they wear tutu's and never pray and they are dirty. Thieves steal and kill, harm and humiliate victims all the time, then the cops push you around and destroy your faith in common decency! Your lives even momentarily, are put on hold, all because someone else was violent and they like him or her better. Even though they have never met you in there lives, damn being a woman I can tell you city stories. But I will not our of respect for this sad yet normal story or rather complaint! Oh yes and if this decent man and his virtuous wife goes to Internal Affairs, about this KKK beating (offically skinheads too)! And the cops attitudes, also about the bill, they'll find that they could care less! If the bill is for the car, the insurance pays for that right? Isn't that the bill they got from the cops? I mean why did they bill them? Man cops love all these sick, lying, sacks of crap, thugs! It's always the quieter, smarter, sweetier people that they go after, and not defend! They back nothing but thugs anymore, I live in the city and see it all the time. They are always attacking women in the city too... damn odd men. Sorry for your plight, not fair, so many sad stories.

[walkingbadger (deleted)]

`hey i can really relate to this kind of incident. this same type of sh*t happen to me. i was coming back from albuq, nm & it was late, and I stopped off at a bar/cafe in chambers, az to get coffee & something to eat. there was a lot of skins in the bar having a good time. i sat at the counter & order a ham & cheese sandwich. this older white lady was behind the counter. she grab this plastic seal bag with the sandwich in it & threw it on the counter. i looked at the bag & the bread was molded & the cheese was all yellowish green. she said $8.45 & i looked at her & said you gotta be kidding. i turned & started to walk away & she yelled at me, hey "gut eater" you ain't leaving until you pay for this sandwich! i kept walking & yelled at her the hell i will! i took about 3 more steps to door & then wham i was hit on the back of my head from behind with a sawed off pull stick handle. i hit the floor & in my mind i was thinking did i just get hit? i started to get up & i got hit again over the bridge of my left eye. i went down again & i was dazed & kept thinking what the hell is going on? i tried to get up again & i was hit again in the face. i tried to get up 3 more times & each time i was hit in the face, i had blood all over my face. i finally laid there pretending i was knocked out. two men (the owner & bouncer) picked me up & threw me out the door & i landed on some rocky terrain. as soon as i hit the ground i jumped up & yelled at them come on, let see you fk with me now! this little white guy bouncer looked at me & started coming at me & i yelled yeah that's it fool & he stop about 4ft from me & pulled out a 38 & said i had 5sec to get the hell outta there. i knew he meant it so i turned & started to leave & as soon as i turned, the owner of the bar (i found out later) hit me again from behind. both men laid into me, the bouncer was kicking me & the owner was beating me with that pool stickhandle. i guessed they thought they killed me because i could hear the bar owner yelling i think he's dead. then he grab me by my hair & pulled my head up & i kind of whimper because i was in a lot of pain. he said we gotta get him up before the sheriffs get here. so they mace me point blank but i held my breath & i was mace 4 more times but i wouldn't get up. then i heard some Dine' lady yell, leave him alone can't you see he's hurt! so i laid there until the sheriffs arrived & as soon as they got there, i jump up & said i want you to arrest these guys for assault. i was like a fountain, my face was so grotesque from all that beating. low & behold, the sheriffs took their statement & arrested me & threw me in jail. i was denied medical treatment. i was throw into the drunk tank with about 30 others. i walked over to a corner of the cell & laid down. i knew if i went to sleep i would probably die so I stayed awake. that morning the faculty nurse came by to check on us & when she seen me she screamed, call for an ambulance "now!" i waited approximately 2hrs before they arrived. they took me to the local hospital & i was treated for my injuries. i had suffered deep laceration above my left eye, 4 very deep ones over my left eye & the back of my head, a cracked skull, all my ribs were broken on the right side & 2 on the left, broken right hand, & a severe concussion. the doctor that treated me just said, oh my god your lucky to be alive. this beating i took was worse than the wounds i suffered in vietnam, because there i was immediately knocked unconscious but what happen to me that night i felt every blow to my body, every last one of them & i was helpless to do anything about it & no one came to my rescue. the hospital staff called the highway patrol & a officer came over to ask me questions. he was Dine' & he told me that this bar had a reputation for doing things like that. he looked at me & said he had never seen anyone take as much punishment as i did. he took my statement & he just told me it's amazing that i could remember everything that happen to me after the beating i took. he took pictures of my wounds & asked me if i wanted to press charges & i said "hell yeah!" a couple of sheriff deputies came over to take me back even though the doctor said i couldn't be released due to my injuries & one of them laughed & said serves him right. but the highway patrol officer that took my statement didn't leave & he came back & saw what they were trying to do & he said to them, hold on boys, this is my jurisdiction it's a criminal matter now & the state is now involved. they looked at him & turned & got the hell out of there. he said for me not to worry & if anyone came to harass me that the hospital had orders to contact him. i felt really good because this officer was Dine' & he said he would make sure i was left alone. he said, “i have been trying for years to get these people†but they have all these people intimidated & no one will step forward & press charges. he looked at me & smiled & then he said, “them bastards picked on the wrong one this time.†to make a very long story short, we went to post-trial & they were trying make a deal with me so the charges would be dropped but i said no. i wanted them to pay for what they did to me & all the others. two weeks before we were to go to trial, the bar owner was shot & killed by one of his patrons, guess they had enough of his sh*t. the bouncer took off & was never seen again. the bar was shut down & to this day it rots along side interstate 40. justice was served, the owner got what was coming to him & I’m pretty sure that bouncer got his just deserves. yeah this kind of stuff still goes on all the time & government always tries sweep it under the table. it took one of our own to follow through & i thank Diyin' for bringing this Dine' officer to me that day. if it would have been someone else other than this officer, i just don’t know, things might have been different.

[naturewriter (deleted)]

`This is not only a problem on the rez. It's a problem in many rural areas. When my skinhead neighbor (who traffics in crack cocaine and little girls) painted a swastika on my property, the local cops told me it was not a hate crime (the cops were part of the trafficking). The ordeal went on for two years with this idiot shooting at me, trying to set my house on fire and a bunch of other madness. I did manage to get some justice only because a neighbor stood with me and the local Jewish Federation took an interest. I was able to sell my house and get out of there before the economy tanked (I am blessed and lucky), but as far as I know that monster is still spreading his poison.

[shewolfe (deleted)]

`:/ those skin heads are @ssh*les _ :/

[grneydhalfbreed (deleted)]

`These days, the skin heads will attack anybody but white people. Nothing new.

[ewo67 (deleted)]

`This is disgusting. What is it the people think they are better than others because of their skin colour/religion/money/power?

[naturewriter (deleted)]

`Update - skin heads are now attacking white people. Yes, NYPD has actually bragged about destroying 4000 of the 5000 books in the Occupy Wall Street Library. As a librarian, I pointed out that if the officers believed the protesters were just angry children, their actions were the equivalent of breaking the child's leg and smashing the toys.

A real parent would put the child in the time out chair and take away the toys. What's really sad here is how the people I worked with cataloging those books have been arrested and injured (I've seen the bruises) and it turns out that holy books of every religion were desecrated.

The only possible good in this is that now that we're all getting smacked around and humiliated, maybe we'll figure out how we have common ground and without the divide and conquer, I'm sure we can get these soul-sucking ghouls out of positions of power.

[ewo67 (deleted)]

`Thanks, JJ, a part of me agrees with you. But I guess the only way out is not winning their game but stop playing it.