The of one-time American Indian Movement leader Russell Means effortlessly bundled a listing of the particular protests this individual participated in, which includes with the Bureau involving Indian Affairs, Mount Rushmore as well as Alcatraz.
Little has been written (in simple fact almost nothing as far as I may possibly see) in relation to one particular exhibition which includes particular resonance with Silicon Valley and also the technology world.
Means, who past away Monday at age 72, appeared to be a boss of the American Indian Movement over the class utes for the Navajo reservation throughout 1975.
It ended up being effortlessly probably Silicon Valley s a lot of dramatic chapters the other that I composed in relation to several years ago, following some sort of visit towards forgotten plant. I ve published that report here .
Fairchild, that semiconductor company this commenced the particular semiconductor industry, seemed to be trying to find inexpensive toil markets in which usually to produce it is chips.
The federal government has been featuring subsidies to available facilities on reservations, where lack of employment has been crushing area as well as families. So rather then post your operate to Taiwan, Malaysia or China, Fairchild around 1969 opened your grow plants in Shiprock, N.M., plus decide to put 1,000 Navajos to work.
Initially, the particular move has been noticed as being a win-win. But that wouldn t last. As I written throughout my May 200o story with the Mercury News SV magazine:
Within a year, Business Week priviledged plant supervisor Paul Driscoll that has a corporate and business citizenship honor to get his / her ethnic sensitivity.
There had been lots of among us of which toiled so challenging in order to demonstrate that will consumers were simply no different in comparison with anybody else, affirms Driscoll, 69, exactly who was in Shiprock from 1967 in order to 1973. It had been a thing that simply no make any difference just what exactly happened, there is section of me in there.
Within three years, Vice President Spiro Agnew hosted a Washington, D.C. summit where Fairchild reps met using other small business commanders to clarify the way in order to take industry for you to reservations.
Then, pronounces Fred Hoar, Fairchild verts top PR man at the time, the main factor blew up.
Before dawning on Feb. 24, 1974, two AIM members stepped around the particular Fairchild grow plants as well as advised your defend they possessed automobile trouble. He let them in to the particular developing and in addition they required the pup hostage, enabling various other protesters in.
The activists held the particular plant for a full week when these people negotiated with Fairchild. Eventually, Fairchild supplied a strong ultimatum: Leave the particular grow plants by means of Fairchild verts contract or the provider would leave and close the particular place pertaining to good.
The protesters didn t leave. And Fairchild does in close proximity your plant.
Mike Cassidy (24 Posts )I write around the customs of Silicon Valley for that San Jose Mercury News.
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