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Jul 14, 18
Filed under: Indigenous, Political Prisoners, Southwest
Update on Standing Rock political prisoner, Little Feather.
Little Feather (Michael Giron) has made it to prison after being sentenced to 3 years. He will likely be at USP Hazelton for the next 21 months. Please shoot him a letter, card and see how he is, show him some love and support.
Michael Giron #25201-075
USP Hazelton
U.S. Pentitentiary
P.O. Box 2000
Bruceton Mills, WV 26525
You can donate to Little Feather’s commissary at https://www.freelittlefeather.com/donate
Michael Giron, “Little Feather,” is a Water Protector from the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation, raised in Santa Barbara, California.
Little Feather, was charged with Civil Disorder and Use of Fire to Commit a Federal Felony Offense, arising from events of October 27, 2016. On February 8th, 2018, he changed his plea in accordance with a non cooperating plea agreement with the prosecution. Under this plea agreement, the Use of Fire charge – which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and the possibility of up to 15 years in prison – will be dropped entirely, and Little Feather will take responsibility for aiding a civil disorder.
The plea agreement was accepted by Judge Daniel Hovland, who is presiding over the case. Prosecutors and the defense jointly recommend a sentence of 36 months on the Civil Disorder charge, although the judge does have the authority to go as high as five years. This is a non-cooperating agreement relating only to Little Feather’s own actions and does not require any testimony or information about anyone else. Little Feather and his legal team were facing monumental challenges including the prospect of trial with a hostile jury pool, limited discovery, and the risk of a long prison sentence. His sentencing was on May 30, 2018 at 1pm and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Little Feather is the first NoDAPL political prisoner.
Little Feather came to Standing Rock with his family. While there, he was of service to the elders and the community. Daily he would check on the elders, retrieve water, chop and deliver wood, cook, clean, give rides, rescue those in need, and so much more. Little Feather created special relationships with those around him. He has a giving heart and spirit to those that know him. His Indigenous spirit will be forever changed by his experiences in Standing Rock.
More about the other Water Protectors currently in prison or facing prison time can be found at
https://waterprotectorlegal.org/water-protector-prisoners/
