Norma Jean Croy: Political Prisoner
by Luis V. Rodriguez
Norma Jean Croy is serving time for the alleged crime of "conspiracy
to murder" Bo Hittson, a Yreka, California, deputy sheriff. Norma Jean
Croy is a Shasta Native American Indian and a lesbian, who has been incarcerated
since July 1978. She was sentenced to life in prison. Norma Jean Croy never
conspired with anyone to commit murder; in fact, she never carried nor fired
the gun that killed officer Bo Hittson.
Norma Jean Croy, her brother Patrick Hooty Croy, and their cousin Darren
made a stop at a convenience store in Yreka. After being falsely accused
of shoplifting and being verbally accused by the store clerk, who also physically
confronted the trio, a fight broke out. The trio drove off in their car.
By chance, a police car drove into the store parking lot and the store clerk
immediately yelled, "Get them!" The officers pursued the vehicle
but the chase was on.
The police radio was used to call for backup in the chase of the "car
full of Indians." A total of 15 police cars and 27 officers joined
in the pursuit which led onto the Reservation. The officers, without warning,
began firing shots. There was a .22 rifle within the Croy vehicle which
was to be used for hunting deer. Officer Bo Hittson was later found to have
been intoxicated by alcohol at the time while at the forefront of the chase
and weapons assault against the Croys as they attempted to flee.
Norma Jean Croy was shot in the back, her cousin Darren was shot in the
groin while trying to surrender. Hooty Croy continued to run with the rifle
to his grandmother's home while continuing to be fired upon. Officer Bo
Hittson caught up to Hooty as he attempted to climb through his grandmother's
window and shot Hooty twice in the back at the same time Hooty turned and
fired a single shot with his .22 rifle hitting Bo Hittson in the heart.
The officer died almost immediately. Somehow Hooty, Norma Jean, and Darren
survived.
Hooty was sentenced to death, Norma Jean received a life sentence. Almost
a decade later the California Supreme Court overturned Hooty's sentence
and conviction. In the retrial of Hooty, renown defense attorney J. Tony
Serra of San Francisco, presented as a defense historical and continuing
racism and Indian-killing for sport in Northern California and that such
mentality has been passed down from generation to generation. In May 1990
Patrick "Hooty" Croy was acquitted on grounds of self-defense.
Norma Jean Croy? She remains in prison doing her life sentence for "conspiracy
to murder," yet it's been legally proven that although someone died,
no "murder" was committed! The sole person responsible for the
death of Bo Hittson-Patrick Hooty Croy-was found not guilty of murder and
freed in 1990.
This is our justice system. Due to political pressure, the courts and prison
parole board refuse to correct blatant miscarriage and travesty of justice.
The California Attorney General Dan Lungren and California governor Pete
Wilson will tell you there are no political prisoners in California. I encourage
all those who truly believe in fair and impartial justice to write them
and the California Parole Board and demand Norma Jean's immediate release!
She's been incarcerated for 14 years. Enough is enough.
Suggested Reading: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown, truly puts
Norma Jean's case into a clear historical perspective.
Note: The reason I put "Fort Chowchilla Prison" on the drawing
(page 9) is because Indians who were taken prisoner were always held captive
at various "forts," which were usually newly built in the area
for control, confinement, and eradication-extermination and genocide- of
Indians.
Editor's Note: Luis V. Rodriguez is of Native American Indian and Spanish
descent.