Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, released this statement following the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court ruling in favor of full citizenship for descendants of Freedmen formerly enslaved by the tribal nation, rejecting the Muscogee Nation attorney general’s attempt to deny their citizenship rights. Congresswoman Waters has long led efforts to bring national attention to their ongoing plight, including by urging Congress and the courts to use their authority to uphold the treaties that guarantee the Freedmen full citizenship rights and hold the tribes accountable for honoring those obligations.

“I applaud the judge’s ruling to grant Black Native American Freedmen their rights to full citizenship. These are rights promised to them through the 1866 treaties. After decades of racial discrimination and injustice, this ruling affirms the Freedmen’s rightfully and legally-guaranteed claims to human dignity and equal recognition — rights that have been unjustly and cruelly withheld for far too long. This includes access to federally funded affordable housing, life-saving health care, education, and other important rights and privileges that are secured by tribal membership. I commend the Freedmen for their unwavering strength and steadfast commitment to fighting for the justice they are owed. Despite this victory, many other Freedmen are still fighting for recognition and justice. We must continue this work until every Freedman receives the full citizenship and rights they are owed.”

###

Background:

• On April 25, 2024, Congresswoman Waters led 12 U.S. House members in an effort seeking permission to file an amicus brief in tribal court supporting Muscogee (Creek) Nation Freedmen.
  
  
• On July 27, 2022, Congresswoman Waters testified before the Senate on the need to uphold equal citizenship rights of Descendants of Freedmen.
  
  
• On October 13, 2021, the Grio wrote a story exploring how Congresswoman Waters has led the charge in Congress to call attention to the discrimination faced by Black Native Americans.
  
  
• On September 14, 2021, the Committee led by Congresswoman Waters passed bills to expedite emergency rental assistance and reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act with protections for descendants of Black Native American Freedmen.
  
  
• On July 27, 2021, Congresswoman Waters delivered a statement at a Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance hearing calling for the reauthorization of NAHASDA programs and guaranteeing equal access for all tribal citizens, including the descendants of Freedmen.