Native American activists condemn Pope's decision to canonize Junipero Serra

On the 23ed of September, five Native American activists protested at Lafayette Square in DC as Pope Francis canonized Junipero Serra, the notorious founder of California's "Indian Mission" system when CA was part of "New Spain" in the 1700's. More Native Americans protested at the Carmel-by-the-Sea mission in CA, where Serra is buried and the canonization was shown live on a big screen Jumbotron.

As the protest began, the Secret Service suddenly closed off the Park, demanding everyone leave starting with the homeless. Protesters had to move to, but were able to give interviews to among other media WTOP Radio. WTOP reported on Native American opposition to this canonization without referrring to any specific protest actions. Also, the Pope ended up meeting with another Native American delegation.

Two days earlier, Native American activist Louise Thundercloud gave this video interview about why Junipero Serra should not be declared a saint by the White House barricades

For Native Americans, Junipero Serra's missions meant forced labor and forced religious conversion. The missions were at the very core of Spanish expropriation of Native American land. Escapees faced floggings and even brandings with hot irons. Now Pope Francis has declared this man a saint for the number of conversions of Native Americans to Christianity his missions were responsible for.

In addition to his role in genocide of Native Americans, Junipero Serra was also appointed as Inquisitor for all of what was then called "new Spain" during a 1752 visit to Mexico City. The Inquisition was the branch of the Catholic Church responsible for witch hunts and witchcraft trials.

RELATED:In California, a mother and son are leading a 650 mile walk to every one of California's missions to protest this canonization of a man described as a monster by many Native Americans. On the 19th of September the Walk For The Ancestors reached Santa Cruz, with 80 people in attendance. This was the site of one of the most notorious of these missions. Earlier last week at San Jose, another group of supporters included Chochenyo Ohlone matriarch Corrina Gould, whose ancestors were imprisoned in that mission but survived. In a debate held inside a nearby Catholic church, a priest asked Corrina Gould what she wanted, and she said first and foremost "we want our land back." That, after all, is at the heart of what colonization is about: theft and displacement. She then had this to say about Junipero Serra, one of the architects of colonization in California "If he was a man of his time, then he was only a man. If he was a Saint, then he would have stopped the destruction and devastation."

More information on what California's mission system meant for Native Americans: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/03/21/burn-down-mission