Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr.: A Response to President Trump

Our nation cannot survive if we sacrifice what is sacred in pursuit of temporary profits.

Today, President Trump said he wants to destroy our holy ground of Oak Flat so a foreign-owned corporation can send copper to China. Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, or neither, that is a terrible deal for the American people.

But this fight is much bigger than politics or profit. This is a fight about our identity as a nation.

Do we respect religious freedom? Will we safeguard our environment for our children and grandchildren? Or will we sacrifice it all for corporate greed?

We’re grateful that we’ve been joined in our struggle by people of many faiths—Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, and more—and people of every political persuasion. That’s because this is not a partisan issue. It is a moral one.

If we destroy our sacred land and poison our environment, we are betraying our children and grandchildren and hurting ourselves. The future of the entire human race is at stake.

Three times now, courts have stopped this destructive project. That is because it is unjust, bad for our nation, and bad for the world. We hope the courts will stop the destruction of Oak Flat once and for all.

No matter what happens, I call on all people to continue to pray for justice and to stand with us in protecting Oak Flat. By protecting Oak Flat, we protect our children and grandchildren, protect Mother Earth, and protect everything that is sacred.