To my young, brilliant, native brother here at Standing Rock: K., brother, James here. You may hate me for this. What kind of a brother would I be if I did not take such a risk with truth that I think is important to try and share? I may be many things but I am not a coward. Number one. By international law I recognise and support the right of an oppressed people, my native sisters and brothers are oppressed, I support international law which says that an oppressed people have the right to resist by any means available. 2. As a lifelong student and practitioner of nonviolent action I say that the actions on the bridge of the last several nights serve only one side, the opposition. Nonviolent resistance depends upon the armies of onlookers sitting safely on the sidelines finally seeing imagery, a picture, a truth, which is so black and white that they come on the side of those in the right. When this Camp was a prayerful Camp it provided that clear picture and they came onto our side in large numbers. The last two nights are at best totally unclear. Really, it guarantees that such pictures will keep them on the sidelines if not joining the opposition. This is bad strategy. It is the right of my native sisters and brothers to do it. It is bad strategy. And it is not the stuff of a true Revolution for a better world. I believe that anyone that truly cares about the future and believes in the truth must watch at least this 15-minute video on the groundbreaking research never before attempted to compare of violent and nonviolent actions over the last hundred years, fifteen minute Ted talk. James
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