[Peace-discuss] Re: Fw: Re: [Peace] Fwd: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for Mark Nepermann Tomorrow

Sat Jul 4 00:14:48 CDT 2009

Wayne,
Y're kidding, right??
 --Jenifer

--- On Thu, 7/2/09, E. Wayne Johnson <ewj at pigs.ag> wrote:

From: E. Wayne Johnson <ewj at pigs.ag>
Subject: Re: Fw: Re: [Peace] Fwd: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for Mark Nepermann Tomorrow
To: "Jenifer Cartwright" <jencart13 at yahoo.com>
Cc: "Peace-discuss" <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 12:31 PM

One could argue that Nepermann was exercising 1st amendment rights and that the destruction
of the display was "protected speech", not merely vandalism.  One could even abstract Nepermann's actions
as a form of "art".

To me, the whole thing has the nature of a conflict of ideas and values, and a public discussion and mediation might produce more benefit and resolution than treating it as a criminal case.

Felonies are serious things that stay with people for lifetimes
and should not be handed out lightly for infractions related to zealous division on unresolved social issues.

It's more like a struggle between iconoclasts to determine whose idolatry is the most worthy sand-castle.

I am not sure what the actual content of the displays was, but I am guessing that "Beyond the Chief" ought to be wholeheartedly unambiguously Anti-Chief.  The Anti-Chief stuff could equally be construed as "hate speech", and have the same 1st amendment protection as any other valid exercise of good-old-fashioned down-in-the-dirt hate speech.  

Seeking tougher sentences for tearing down "in-your-face" art that is deliberately and calculatedly designed to be provocative is a rather virulent form of hate in itself.  Should one blame the taunted bull when it charges?  If the display was to be "art" only, why wasnt it displayed indoors where the art would be safe from fading by sunlight and torment by tornadoes?  The truth is that the intent of Beyond the Chief is to in a major way frankly piss off people in the local community, and it that sense, it is obviously effective.  Making it into a criminal case is just silly.  But looking silly hasnt stopped the perpetrators on either side of the Chief debate and debacle.  Clearly this is a case where Both Sides Suck.  Tougher sentences for hate speech, indeed.  Stronger words too.  Deeper intentions.  Greener crocodile tears.  More obstinate entrenchments.  Ya-hoo, you yahoos.

There is still tremendous pro-Chief sentiment in the State and locally as well and one is not surprised to see it breaking out into occasional violent acts, while the Native Americans seek public attention in various and unique ways.  There is a huge festering wound that needs healing.  The bleeding-heart minority in the community painting the pro-Chief majority in the community bigots and racists does nothing to change minds or produce healing among those who feel wronged and betrayed by the university.  Nepermann is probably already viewed as a sort of folk hero by some.  Better to get the whole matter resolved in a public discussion than to make Nedermann a martyr.

But I really dont have a "dog in this fight".  I consider the local obsession with college sports to have become a form of ridiculous mass hysteria with its palaces and edifices, huge budgets, and million dollar coaches.  The whole matter detracts and distracts incredibly from the mission of a university in my ever-so-humble opinion.  It doesn't make it any less stupid to me whether they use chieftains, cheeseballs, or honey-nut cheerios for mascots.  

I must admit that I like the idea of cheerios as mascots and a dancing cerealistic Zero, nay, a legion of Zeroes, rolling around and cavorting on Ron Zook's 50 yardline at half-time to passionate strains of
"Oskee Wow-Wow, Illinois!" might be appropriate in a Seussian sort of way.  

On 7/2/2009 10:34 AM, Jenifer Cartwright wrote: 

Oops, this was meant for peace-discuss, not peace. Pls forgive.
 --Jenifer

--- On Thu, 7/2/09, Jenifer Cartwright <jencart13 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Jenifer Cartwright <jencart13 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Peace] Fwd: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for Mark Nepermann Tomorrow
To: "Court Watch" <announce at communitycourtwatch.org>, "AWARE peace" <peace at lists.chambana.net>, "Brian Dolinar" <briandolinar at gmail.com>
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 10:33 AM

Interesting case. There's no proof that Nepermann had anything to do w/ the 7 previous cases of vandalism, so those are out of the picture (unless by a cruel twist of fate it could be argued that those are what devalued the art). But stealing two signs considered to be art installations doesn't seem like as little as a misdemeanor, either. Is there any way for an independent valuation by somebody in the Art biz?? Were the installations covered by insurance?? Were they returned in good condition? Hmmm, maybe a case could be made for calling this a hate crime... 
Another big Q is whether there's any precedent here, i e what charges have been levied in the past against e g removal of Chief, etc displays. 
 --Jenifer  

--- On Wed, 7/1/09, Brian Dolinar <briandolinar at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Brian Dolinar <briandolinar at gmail.com>
Subject: [Peace] Fwd: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for Mark Nepermann Tomorrow
To: "Court Watch" <announce at communitycourtwatch.org>, "AWARE peace" <peace at lists.chambana.net>
Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 3:48 PM

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ashley Tsosie-Mahieu <atsosiemahieu at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Subject: [stop] ACTION ALERT: Arraignment for Mark Nepermann Tomorrow
To: organize <organize at iresist.org>, STOP <stop at iresist.org>, public-pedagogy at googlegroups.com

ACTION ALERT! 

What:  Court Hearing for Mark Nepermann 

Location:  The Champaign County Courthouse is located at 
101 E. Main St.
Urbana, IL
(Main and Vine St. in downtown Urbana) 

The suspect in the theft of two signs from the outdoor art installation by Edgar Heap of Birds (Cheyenne-Arapaho) is due in court at the Champaign County Courthouse on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 1:30 pm in Room F.  

Mark Nepermann, the 2009 UIUC graduate in Landscape Architecture will face charges of theft.  The 22 year old from Batavia, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) was video taped by police surveillance cameras removing two exhibit items directly in front of the Native American House.  This theft followed a series of 7 cases of vandalism upon the art installation dating from March 16 through June 9, 2009.   

State’s Attorney, Julia Rietz is only seeking misdemeanor charges because she is valuing both exhibit items at under $300.00.  By estimating the items at such a low price, Nepermann will not face felony charges.   

These actions by Rietz make transparent how the court system within Champaign-Urbana privileges certain populations, while literally devaluing the livelihoods of historically marginalized groups.   

The maneuvering by Rietz also places additional emphasis of why the Department of Justice needs to take on a bigger role in protecting the rights of American Indian populations at UIUC and addressing the hostile environment that continues to plague the campus and community. 

Please make time in your schedule to witness the court proceedings of Mark Nepermann on Thursday July 2, 2009 at 1:30 pm in courtroom F. The Champaign County Courthouse is located at 101 E. Main St.
Urbana, IL (Main and Vine St. in downtown Urbana).  
Please note, no cameras or cell phones are allowed inside the court building. 

-- 
Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
303 W. Locust St.
Urbana, IL 61801
briandolinar at gmail.com

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