Seattle Human Rights Commission

Seattle Human Rights Commission Letter on Culverts Case

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Seattle Human Rights Commission Culvert_OpEd

An excerpt:

The Seattle Human Rights Commission writes in response to the Seattle Times recent editorial “The Supreme Court must clarify culvert ruling,” and seeks to correct inaccuracies regarding tribal treaty rights and the State’s obligation to not impair them. Washington’s tribal nations have lived and fished throughout our State since time immemorial, and their right to do so is protected by treaty. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in an exhaustive and well researched opinion, recognized that this right requires the removal of culverts that block fish passage. The State’s decision to seek Supreme Court review of that decision reflects revisionist and troubling effort to weaken treaty rights.

Seattle Human Rights Commission Release on Law Firms that will Boycott Washington Football Team

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Law Firms Rally to Boycott Corporate Sponsors of the D.C. N.F.L. Team; the National Congress of American Indians Issues a Letter of Support

For information contact:

Ethel Branch

(206) 344-8100

ethel.billie@gmail.com

SEATTLE –The Seattle-based law firm of Kanji & Katzen PLLC has answered the call of the Seattle Human Rights Commission and has voted to boycott the D.C. N.F.L. team’s key corporate sponsors until the team’s name changes.  This includes ceasing use of FedEx in the firm’s two offices, and closing the firm’s accounts at Bank of America.  The firm specializes in litigation on behalf of Native Nations throughout Indian country in fields spanning treaty rights, sovereignty protection, taxation and regulation, land claims and land use, reservation boundaries, gaming and economic development, and environmental protection.

The move by Kanji & Katzen, announced last Monday, prompted other law firms to join the boycott.  By Friday, Kewenvoyouma Law, Skenandore Law, Galanda Broadman (also Seattle-based) and the Alaska office of Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, LLP had joined the boycott.  The boycott is also under review by the partners of a number of other law firms nationwide.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest and largest representative organization of Native Nations in the United States, issued a letter of support for the Seattle Human Rights Commission’s Resolution No. 15-01 calling for the boycott among City of Seattle residents and businesses, as well as by the City of Seattle itself.

The Commission continues to urge the City, City businesses, and City residents to join the boycott and recently started a change.org petition for individuals to sign on to the boycott.  The “Boycott D.C. N.F.L. Team Sponsors until the Name is Changed” petition has garnered 69 signatures thus far.