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Mohawk Tells Judge He Doesn't Recognize His Court Or State Law

Story Published: Feb 27, 2012 at 4:29 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 27, 2012 at 9:51 PM EDT

A Mohawk traditionalist charged with digging up a capped toxic landfill near his Akwesasne Reservation home told a St. Lawrence County judge he did not recognize the court or New York state law.

Larry Thompson appeared in court wearing a traditional Mohawk headdress for his arraignment on charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.

The 57 year old was accompanied by a number of supporters, including several wearing Mohawk headdresses.

Thompson refused to answer the court's questions over a plea or an attorney.

He told Judge Jerome Richards the court had no legal jurisdiction over "a true sovereign" under the Onkwehonwe Signatory Tribe's constitution.

Thompson says the former General Motors Corporation is the "real criminal" for failing to remove toxic chemicals from the site which are now bringing cancers and other health problems to the Akswesasne Reservation.

"It's a perfect example of who the law protects. It's the big corporations and they got off scot-free. They got bailed out by the United States government and the people are left with the contaminants that are still leaching into the ground, the water and the air," said Thompson.
 
Thompson allegedly used a backhoe to drive through the fence at the former GM site on August 11, 2011 and then dug into the capped landfill where the toxic chemicals were left buried.

Judge Richards told Thompson, "You are a human being subject to the laws of this state. My job is to make sure you have a fair trial."

See our earlier report
Friday, May 24, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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