Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
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NEW MEXICO - Elton Bear Eagle Chavez, an inmate in the NM prison system, resumed his hunger strike yesterday when he was once again prohibited from participating in a sweat lodge ceremony. Today, representatives of COPA! NM gathered with other activists, members of STEPS and the November Coalition, for a conference call with Bear Eagle, speaking from the prison hospital at Central NM Correctional Facility in Los Lunas.

While we all firmly support the religious freedom of Bear Eagle and all other Native American inmates, we do not support or recommend a hunger strike, since it is a life threatening measure. We have made a commitment to Bear Eagle to work in helping to restore these rights as guaranteed by the Native American Counseling Act (1993) and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (1996). In good faith, Bear Eagle agreed to eat today, pending further developments.

We are announcing the establishment of a Bear Eagle Chavez Legal Defense Fund to assist in restoring his civil and religious rights.

A press conference is scheduled for Friday, May 4, 2001 at 3:00 P.M. at the University of New Mexico Law School in Room #3211.