The struggle to protect the sacred site of Oak Flat in Arizona continues as the Apache Stronghold group persists in its legal battle, bringing the case closer to the attention of the United States Supreme Court. As reported by ABC15, the group, which is seeking the halting of a land transfer to mining company Resolution Copper, has garnered support from a vast coalition encompassing faith-based groups, environmentalists, and various tribes, including the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
In the wake of a 6-5 decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Apache Stronghold is determined to swiftly overturn the court's ruling. Resolution Copper has defended the planned mine as a boon for the local economy, promising to bring thousands of jobs. However, the project threatens to create a two-mile-wide crater at Oak Flat, a site of profound religious significance for Apache communities and recognized in the National Register of Historic Places. "It's our historical and ancient place in relation to our religion," Apache Stronghold leader Wendsler Nosie Sr. asserted in a statement obtained by ABC15.
Meanwhile, the legal challenge aims to shed light on the Ninth Circuit's ruling, which, as critics claim, didn't adequately consider federal laws that protect religious freedoms. "We pray that the Justices take our case and ensure that our religious practices receive the same respect that all other faith traditions enjoy," Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr. stated in a press release from Becket.
The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether it will take the case, according to ABC15.
