David Yeagley is the great-great-grandson of Comanche leader Bad Eagle. 
This letter was faxed to US Attorney General Eric Holder, and Oklahoma Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, Wednesday, February 24, 2010, around 11:30 am, CST:
February 24, 2010
Attorney General Eric Holder
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Dear Mr. Holder,
My name is David Yeagley. I am a Comanche Indian, from Oklahoma. I wish to report a dramatic and illegal denial of First Amendment rights which occurred in the Washington, DC area, the week of February 15, 2010.
I am sure you are concerned, since a year ago to the day, you declared that America was a nation of cowards because they are afraid to talk about race. I report to you that a group of people attempted to assemble peacefully to discuss race intelligently, and they were harassed, even with death threats, to the point of cancelling their conference—twice.
In a period of less than two weeks, The American Renaissance Conference attempted to procure hotel and meeting space for its members and speakers, and four different hotels cancelled their contracts due to harassment and threats made against their management and their employees.
I was one of the invited speakers at this conference, and I take these events quite seriously. I have presented the matter here as simply and abstractly as possible. I hope that you can see the gravity of the crime. The First Amendment was utterly denied me, and many others.
I appeal to you, because of your special perception of the race subject. I was impressed with your initial candor when you assessed the nation’s fear of race. I see this American Renaissance situation as a great opportunity for you to support those who are not afraid. Here a group of respectable people desired to meet together publicly, and to discuss race. They were denied. Opponents were afraid to let anyone talk about race.
Will you prosecute the offending opponents? Will you make good your word, and support the American Renaissance? This is a golden opportunity to do so. You yourself could host them in the future, there at the DOJ, and perhaps even be the keynote speaker.
Sincerely,
Dr. David A. Yeagley (enrolled Comanche)
P.O.Box 75017
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
CC: Oklahoma Senators Jim Inhofe, Tom Coburn
There were telephone calls made, and assurances given that the fax was received. We shall inform our readers the minute we receive any response from any of the offices involved. It is highly unlikely, but, this letter was an initial action taken in defense of the First Amendment. It is not known at this time whether American Renaissance has taken any such action at this point.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Natty Bumppo // Feb 24, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Dr. Yeagley, if this letter gets no response you could always call the ACLU, right?
2 Ironhead // Feb 25, 2010 at 2:29 am
Long-time reader and fan, Dr. Yeagley… first time poster.
I’ve been following this curious saga of the 2010 American Renaissance Conference and its cancellation because of nothing less than terroristic threats…and the subsequent overwhelming official sound of silence from the very people you mention in the letter.
A “Nation of Cowards” in Attorney General Holder’s estimation notwithstanding, it seems “real” and frank discussions of Race and all the many troubling implications of that dangerous elephant in the room of American society that folks simply walk around and pretend to ignore… though it is undeniably there… aren’t quite as welcomed when any other than the “officially” sanitized viewpoint or version is going to be presented. It also seems that the Federal Enforcement and Upholding of the First Amendment of the United States only applies to certain, very particular groups… NOT those who might be represented by a group such as American Renaissance.
Interesting times, Sir… Interesting times…
One wonders how this bodes for the future of the First Amendment in what men much wiser than myself now call that-country-formerly-called-the-United-States…. for so very, very little TRULY seems to be any longer UNITED there.
Thank you for your work, and your perception, insight, and voice.
From Across the Sea…
3 Stella // Feb 25, 2010 at 5:01 am
It wasn’t the State or federal government that shut down the conference. Therefore, how is it a violation of the First Amendment?
4 David Yeagley // Feb 25, 2010 at 9:22 am
Stella, the freedom to assemble peacefully, and to speak your peace, all this was denied. Those who denied it are guilty. Those who enforce law and prosecute offenders are called to action by these violations.
This is an appeal to the government to enforce or protect the Amendment. The government was not accused. You are confusing the issue entirely, for some reason.
Anyone is free to deny First Amendment rights. But those who do must be prosecuted. Eric Holder essentially bragged about his freedom to talk about race. Now let’s see if he will protect and enforce that freedom for others.
That’s all. That’s why this letter was sent to him. Why would you object?
5 Stella // Feb 25, 2010 at 9:54 am
I don’t object at all. Although I don’t agree with AmRen’s positions, I don’t respect the people who shut it down. I think they are totalitarians.
But my understanding is that the First Amendment restricts government regulation of speech, not the decision of a private entity like a hotel. That’s why I asked my question.
6 David Yeagley // Feb 25, 2010 at 10:53 am
The DOJ has the responsibility of protecting or enforcing the law (the Constitution) of the land, does it not?
When the decision of a hotel is based on death threats to management and employees, seems to me the government should be concerned.
In any case, any technical misfire here is overshadowed by the public position of Eric Holder that America is a nation of cowards for being afraid to talk about race. Well, let him then step in an defend and promote those who are not
The FBI has already been appealed to, by those concerned. We await that outcome. Sometimes, however, “media” is the only arena the public has. Sometimes, the law enforcement element makes decisions based on something other than the law. This is inevitable.
AmRen’s “positions” are quite varied. As I understand it, it is simply a forum for the discussion and sharing of research regarding the place of white people in the world, historically, and presently. What’s there not to agree with, exactly? Doesn’t everyone have an opinion on that? Ha!
Well, their First Amendment rights were denied, by brown shirt thuggerinas. This is not to be allowed. This cannot be ignored. That’s the bottom line.
7 AmRen // Feb 25, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Isn’t this a bit silly, Doctor Yeagley. It is unfortunate that the conference could not be sited but the actions of a private party have nothing to do with your rights under the 1st amendment.
The amendment prevents only government restrictions of speech.
You don’t advance our cause by displaying a brash disregard for the facts.
8 David Yeagley // Feb 25, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Well, “AmRen,” we can see that you are obviously a free-wheeling foney and one of the brown shirt opponents. (Or should we spell that “phoney,” to display our breadth of tolerance? Have you ever looked at the law, speaking of facts, by the way? As long as you operate in the street, you should know something of the your circumstance. I’m generous with my enemies, generally. I won’t even expose your email and IP number, so there.
18 U.S.C. § 241. Conspiracy against rights
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured—
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
9 David Yeagley // Feb 25, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Of course, Commies never read the Constitution right. Like their fall guy hero, Barry Soetoro, they think it’s flawed–where it doesn’t support their values.
10 TNT // Feb 26, 2010 at 1:34 am
“Dear Mr. Holder,
My name is David Yeagley. I am a Comanche Indian, from Oklahoma.”
You missed adding Ph.d, too. BTW, signing out as “Dr. David Yeagley”, was that deliberate or did you make this ambiguous by mistake?
And why pull out the COMANCHE card? That should be “part Comanche” at best, we both know that’s truer than true.
Didn’t Jeff Chandler say that to Jimmy Stewart in “Broken Arrow”: “I am Cochise. I am Apache!”
David, forget the Indian gags! You just don’t do Indian very well. Very awkward. For all your love of the injun stereotype you have no ability to summon it up.
Stick to the race stuff. That’s the ticket!
BTW, if you’re going to grandstand like this, at least spell the simple words right from the beginning:
“I wish to report a dramtic and illegal denial of First Amendment rights which occurred in the Washington, DC area, the week of February 15, 2010.”
Is a. dramatic some Croatian guy?
And enough with the @ss-kisssing! The AmRen people love you! You’ll be in their sights and shows for years to come. Your numbers are dwindling and you’ve got to stick together. You white supremacists I mean, of course.
Look, I understand you want to put on a show for the troops but this one is one step beyond good sense. For one it makes you look like someone with no political savvy. I mean get real, what Attorney General is gonna give a hoot about a bunch of racist outsiders who don’t have the clout to make a simple conference happen.
BTW, I wouldn’t put it past the CPAC crowd to have had a hand in nixing AmRen. They’re even whiter than the Republican Convention so they need you guys saying all the stuff they can only believe. They needed to distance themselves from you all.
All I’m saying is keep everything black and white.
11 jo282271 // Feb 26, 2010 at 8:59 am
TMT, there’s nothing racist about AmRen. they are a group of concerned white men that want to talk about the issues of the day from a white man’s perspective. How come blacks, indians, women, and hispanics can get together but not white men? why isn’t it racist or sexist when all them decide to talk about their race or gender? BTW the world today as we know was founded and still run by white men, so if anyone has authority to speak it would be white men.
Also, if your going to use that word ,racist, why don’t you do us all a favor and give us your definition of the word.
12 David Yeagley // Feb 26, 2010 at 9:22 am
TNT, your such slob. And you obviously enjoy it so much! Quite entertaining, actually.
Now, was there a part that you wanted anyone to take seriously? I mean, do you expect a response to anything specific?
Well, thanks for the spell-check. Those of us who read a lot sometimes have weary eyes, as you may or may not know.
Next time, say something intelligent, or your banned. Final warning.
13 David Yeagley // Feb 26, 2010 at 10:08 am
For the public knowledge, “TNT” is using an email with “NDNfriend” in the handle.
So, apparently we have another fraud ID going on. It is clear now that TNT cannot be trusted for truth. I think it’s ol’ “TOM” back in one of his many different faces. A real bastion of honesty, he is. So proud of his Indian identity, honoring so carefully, truthfully, and openly.
Enough of TNT.
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