‘He is a Spokandian; he is your family’: #Spokane #IndigenousActivist shot in New Mexico

September 29, 2023

By Alexandra Duggan
alexandrad@spokesman.com

"A longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, [#JacobJohns] has been vocal during #ClimateChange protests in Spokane, has painted #murals on Spokane city walls, has fundraised for #Indigenous groups through selling his paintings, organizes #SocialJustice rallies, and more.

"He just finished painting a mural in the Howard Street underpass on Sept. 19 to celebrate #VotingRights restoration for recently incarcerated people on National Voter Registration Day. Johns was also present at the #StandingRockPipeline protests in #NorthDakota.

"In just two months, he was scheduled to lead an #IndigenousWisdomKeepers Delegation to discuss solutions to climate change.

"'His home is there in Spokane. He tries to help out everywhere he can. Any community mural, anything grassroots. He is a real warrior,' [Johns' friend] Lane said. 'That’s what warriors do, standing up for #MotherEarth. I know that’s what he’s doing that for – his daughter, and all of mankind.'

"Lane is waiting for updates on his friend’s condition. He said as the community waits, they pray.

"'More than anything, I hope this can bring our communities together,' Lane said. 'We are all Americans. All of us. We got more in common than we do the difference.

"'We can’t let this be normal. He is a Spokandian; he is your family.'"

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/sep/29/he-is-a-spokandian-he-is-your-family-spokane-indig/

#ClimateActivist #LandBack #Colonialism #ClimateCrisis #EnvironmentalJustice #IndigenousActivist #IndigenousNews #StandingRock #Colonialism #Oñate