I am establishing this counter petition to have more repercussion and accountability given to false and unsubstantiated accounts of defamation across ALL social media platforms; namely in this instance, the current petition being spread about in regards to sexual allegations against Nahko Bear.

It is no secret that there is an ongoing, and growing Cancel Culture movement taking place. Social media has always thrived in the vein of what is trendy and popular for the moment. It's an extremely fast paced online environment where everything is "instant", and very little is followed up upon on the topic of public opinion and the freedom to literally say...anything. That having been said, in regards to the above affair at hand, this "Cancel" movement of simply "X'ing" out an individual by social outcry alone has grown grossly out of hand, with individuals manipulating the power of this social movement to tailor their own nefarious bullying, slander, and defamation. A line needs to be drawn betwixt substantiated FACT, and baseless allegations that offer forth no foundation to support the initial claim(s) beyond a typed out "I say it so it's true". This has been allowed for far too long, and it's damaging to the individuals out there who are in fact NOT guilty of the accusations being thrown their way.

There is a current petition circulating out there that alleges vocalist Nahko Bear, of Nahko and Medicine For The People, of acts of rape and pedophilia, sexual indecency, 'child grooming', and sexual deviation that are all COMPLETELY unfounded, completely without merit, and completely lacking any solid substantiation and evidence, beyond online testimony, to back up these heinous accusations WHATSOEVER. These are SERIOUS allegations, with the ferocious power of swaying public view and opinion in many of those who may not be aware of ACCURATE circumstances. In just a matter of weeks, these online accusations have split social media down the middle, all while still offering up no evidence that would prove beyond a reasonable, let alone suggestive doubt, that Nahko Bear has committed any crime. To date...ZERO police reports for sexual deviancy on any level can be found on file. ZERO court actions have ever taken place against Nahko Bear in regard to sexual misconduct, or deviancy on ANY level..this includes rape..force..coersion..child grooming...all things in the list of offenses being unjustly alleged against him. There have been ZERO charges pressed, and Nahko has never been found guilty of anything above hearsay. Why? Because there is simply NO evidence to back up the claims being brought up against him. There never was. And my argument is this: If an online society can formulate an opinion and act as judge, jury, and executioner upon an individual based off of story telling and hearsay alone,..what does that truly say for the safety, the freedom, and the future of ANY of us...when WORDS alone, and nothing more, can be allowed to dictate who's guilty or innocent?

I have spoken up across ALL social media platforms amidst backlash, profanity, and threats to myself and my family thrown at me. I've been called a 'rapist apologist', amongst other things, but I refuse to back down in the pursuit of what is fair and just. Of what is RIGHT. You CANNOT ultimately condemn a human being, or manipulate and influence a community to cast out ANY human being, male or female, on words alone.

This just goes to show the power of the manipulation of words in online social media platforms. And "WE" as a community committed to appropriating correct change amongst ourselves and our people should not, and will not, allow this misuse to take place any longer without appropriate repercussion and accountability.

Harper's Magazine published an open call letter calling to do away with cancel culture altogether, which was signed by more than 150 prominent public figures, denouncing the toxic movement as "censorious" And "an intolerance of opposing views,..a vogue for public shaming and ostracism,..and the tendency to dissolve complex policy issues in a blinding moral certainty". Link enclosed below:

https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/

The opposition argues that their right to accuse and allege without substatiation, and their right to "cancel out" is an extension of their freedom of speech. But ANY speech meant to attack another person’s existence and human rights is NOT freedom, but outright oppression.

It is for ALL of these reasons that today I initiate and I sign to not only reinstate Nahko's ability to perform, but to remove defamatory petitions lacking merit, and END the defamation loophole that comes with the "Cancel Culture" movement; and to reinstate his rightful legacy to his namesake, as well to his stance in today's much needed activist environment.

Please sign today. ☮