Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, has recently voiced his support for returning land to the indigenous population of the state.
He argues that this is a necessary step towards addressing the longstanding injustices perpetrated by both state and federal governments.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, Platner expressed his stance during a virtual town hall on Monday, stating, "I, for one, am a firm supporter in any legislation that increases tribal sovereignty for the indigenous population in Maine."
He further advocated for federal legislation that would facilitate the return of land to the indigenous peoples from whom it was taken. "Tribal sovereignty, quite frankly, is a foundation of my politics," he added. "I dont think we get to have a future full of justice, dignity, and peace, but we dont right the injustices of the past."
Maine is home to approximately 10,000 indigenous people, making it the state with the tenth smallest indigenous population in the United States, as per the 2021 Census data. Advocates for the return of land, or 'land-back' advocates, typically call for the return of public lands to the indigenous population.
This sentiment was echoed in an essay published by the Atlantic in March, where a ranger and native argued that "tribal members from all nations" should unite to sue the government for treaty violations, with the return of federal lands as the settlement.
In a recent development, the Senate passed a bill that would pay a Michigan tribe $34 million to settle 150-year-old land claims. However, the bill does not directly return land to the tribe. This bill had previously passed the Senate in 2023 but had stalled in the House.
Platner, who identifies as a working-class Mainer and is the son of a renowned architect, has made a series of provocative statements during his campaign. He has publicly praised Senator Elizabeth Warren, who controversially claimed indigenous heritage when applying for jobs, despite being only between 1.5 and .097 percent Native American.
In November, Platner urged his supporters to publicly confront members of Maines congressional delegation who oppose Medicare for All. "Frankly, I want people to follow them around and dont let them have a public dinner without getting yelled at," he said. "Because thats power. Thats real power." He also called for the abolition of ICE and for tech giants like Google and Palantir to be broken up.
Platner's campaign has been marred by controversy. Reddit posts surfaced in which he made derogatory comments about white rural people, identified himself as a communist, and advocated for violence against those he perceives as fascists. These posts have proven to be a significant hurdle for his campaign, with a November poll showing a surge in support for his Republican opponent, Senator Susan Collins, following their publication.
Despite these challenges, Platner continues to portray himself as a champion of the working class and has repeatedly called for billionaires to go "extinct." However, his claims of working-class status have been met with skepticism due to his privileged upbringing and education at an elite boarding school.
His campaign faced further scrutiny when a sexual assault survivor confronted him, demanding "true remorse" rather than "shallow words."
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