Bear River Band claims Dikeman a racist
Rancheria asks tribes of California to oppose candidate
from The Times-Standard | News Articles | by James Faulk | Jun 3, 2006
EUREKA -- The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria has sent a letter to the tribes of California asking them to oppose Worth Dikeman in the race for Humboldt County district attorney.
"We may not be capable of serving on a jury but we are darn well capable of using our voting clout to keep him out of the DA's office."--Howard McConnell, Yurok Tribe
Dikeman has been roundly criticized by some members of the American Indian community for seeking to remove jurors of American Indian descent in a past case after saying that employees of tribes were resistant of the criminal justice system.
The trial was that of Fortunan Richard Kesser, who was ultimately convicted. His conviction has been appealed several times, and each time it has been upheld. It is currently being reviewed again.
Tribal board member Aileen Meyer confirmed that the letter was being sent and said she took issue with Dikeman's comments about American Indian jurors.
”They're putting together a letter to all of the tribes that they basically don't really want Dikeman in there because of his racist remarks,” she said. “Don't Native Americans have the right to sit on a jury? You are supposed to be held to a jury of your peers if you do something wrong, right ?”
Howard McConnell of the Yurok Tribe said he had yet to see the letter from the Bear River Band.
”But I'm voting for Mr. Gallegos -- that's who I'm voting for,” McConnell said. “I had my mind made up a long time ago.”
In a letter to the editor sent before Friday's announcement, Robert Ulibarri -- a Navajo married to a member of the Hoopa Tribe -- sent the same sentiment.
”Since Native Americans make up almost 10 percent of the Humboldt County population, let's send a strong message to District Attorney candidate Worth Dikeman,” he said. “We may not be capable of serving on a jury but we are darn well capable of using our voting clout to keep him out of the DA's office.”
Dikeman was unreachable Friday evening, but has been quoted as saying he wouldn't dignify the tribe's actions with a remark.
Tribal Chairman Leonard Bowman was also not available for comment.
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