The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, which once worked to ensure California would not get to vote on expanded gaming, a failed campaign, is making it representation wishes know. The tribe, which practices APARTHEID on their reservation, not allowing allottees to vote on land issues and forcing them to stay away from bathrooms and drinking fountains, have chosen Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez for the 4th District on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
$45,000 may seem like a lot of money, and it is, but it's nothing compared the the more than $450 Million they have stolen from tribal members via disenrollment. Maybe it's better to let Mr. Perez be supported by a tribe that has violated the civil and human rights of it's own people. Is that really who he wants to be backing him?
The tribe isn’t in the 4th District – Benoit represents desert-area communities – but that doesn’t mean it lacks a reason to oppose him, according the to the Press Enterprise.
Benoit, a Republican, was the Board of Supervisors’ strongest advocate for Liberty Quarry, an open-pit mine sought for the hills overlooking Temecula.
Pechanga vigorously fought the project, arguing the mine would destroy a sacred tribal area. The project died in 2012 when Pechanga bought part of the quarry site from developer Granite Construction.
Pechanga has every right to give to who they want in political races, and it's no surprise they give to the Democrat, as one of their council is the head of the Native American Caucus of the Democratic Party, but Perez should ask himself, "Is this who I want to take money from, a tribe that has harmed their own elders, and who forcefully removed children from the tribal school?"
Better to have clean hands and return the money, Assemblyman Perez. The fleas you get from laying with dogs, could come back to bite you.
Better to have clean hands and return the money, Assemblyman Perez. The fleas you get from laying with dogs, could come back to bite you.
