UPDATE: Leonard Peltier to get first full parole hearing in 15 years
Attend the Vigil at Lewisburg Penitentiary July 28th
Join us and other Peltier supporters at the entrance of USP-Lewisburg on July 28 between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. for a peaceful protest and vigil. Meet at the corner of Route 15 and William Penn Road. USP-Lewisburg is located in central Pennsylvania, 200 miles north of Washington, DC, and 170 miles west of Philadelphia.
Days Inn will give a discount to anyone attending the Peltier vigil. The motel is 1 mile from the prison. The phone number is 570-523-1171.
You perhaps can’t make the trip to Lewisburg. What to do?
Plan a peaceful, respectful and sincere demonstration at a federal or state building in your area.
Please Help us Circulate this Press Release ~ In your state ~
On July 28, 2009 Peltier was granted a full hearing before the US Parole Commission. The commission has 21 days to make a decision on the parole hearing examiner’s recommendation.
Leonard Peltier awaits decision
MORE ARTICLES ABOUT PELTIER FROM NEWS FOR NATIVES
A hearing is set for this coming Tuesday in Lewisburg, Pa., where Peltier is incarcerated in a federal prison.
Peltier is serving two life sentences for the deaths of two FBI agents during a 1975 standoff on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He has claimed the FBI framed him, which the agency denies. His case has become a cause celebre among activists and celebrities.
A 1992 documentary film, “Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story,†was produced and narrated by Robert Redford. Author Peter Matthiessen’s book, “In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,†which came out that same year, also details the events surrounding Peltier’s case.
Leonard Peltier
As of this year, my good friend, Native American leader Leonard Peltier, has been imprisoned for 29 years for a murder that even the government has no idea if he committed or not. The Appeals Court judge that sentenced him wrote a letter to President Clinton asking for clemency, and informing the President that the case had many errors in it, but that his hands had been tied. Furthermore, he held the FBI equally culpable for the events that started a massive fire-fight on the Sioux reservation that resulted in the deaths of two FBI agents.
Leonard has been in prison longer than many people convicted of murder. He has been eligible for parole for many years and every appeal has been denied. Both his parents have died while he was incarcerated and he has survived two attempts on his life; had his jaw wired shut after botched surgery and is now suffering from old age. During the 1996 Democratic Convention I asked a Deputy in the Justice Department about Leonard and he told me, “When you first spoke to me, I thought you were crazy. I’m embarrassed to say that everything you told me was the truth. All I can say is that there are some very powerful people in Washington that do not want to see him leave prison alive.”
Here are the facts of the case.
In 1973 the highest per capita murder rate in the country was the Sioux reservation at Pine Ridge. The head of Oglalla Sioux police force, a virtual dictator named Dick Wilson and his GOON Squad (Guardians of the Oglalla Nation) were systematically picking off everyone working for electoral reform on the reservation and traditional elders—more than 60 in that year alone. The situation got so bad, that the tribe’s elder women called the American Indian Movement (AIM) for help, and they arrived and set up an encampment, with women and children, schools and kitchens.
In this tense and murderous climate, on June 26, 1975, two FBI agents in unmarked cars followed a pick-up truck onto the Jumping Bull ranch supposedly to serve a warrant on a young boy who had stolen some cowboy boots. It also happened to be the same day that GOON Squad chief Dick Wilson was in Washington, illegally signing away the tribe’s uranium rights to multinational mining corporations. The families immediately became alarmed and feared an attack. Shots were heard and a shoot-out erupted. Tribal police had been readied as back-up outside the ranch, but when they heard the return fire, they abandoned the FBI men who were wounded, then eventually executed at close range. Everyone who was there insists that Leonard was minding the children and not even involved in the gun-fight. When they searched the bodies and found the Federal ID the Native leaders dispersed far and wide, correctly anticipating that the reservation would be over-run ‘y Federal forces. It was, and they shot it to pieces, instituting a week long reign of terror where elders were harassed and beaten, houses burned and shot up, and the native population terrorized.
Leonard was finally captured in Canada and brought to trial where he and his cohorts were freed by an all-white jury. The FBI was enraged and assembled a new case by fabricating evidence, suborning witnesses, breaking the chains of evidence, having witnesses perjure themselves—all errors cited by the Appeals judge who later petitioned on Leonard’s behalf, but despite numerous errors, Leonard was sentenced to life in prison.
His case was masterfully explained by author Peter Mathiessen in his book, The Spirit of Crazy Horse which was kept off bookstore and library shelves for eight years due to a suit brought by two FBI men who did not like the way they were portrayed. More than 16 million people around the world have signed petitions demanding his release. Amnesty International, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, National Congress of American Indians, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev. Jesse Jackson, among many others, have called Leonard a political prisoner who should be immediately released. Even the government finally admitted they had no idea of who had killed the agents. Native warrior has confessed to the crime, but refuses to turn himself in saying it was an act of war.
29 years later Leonard languishes in prison, a political prisoner, tarnishing the reputation of the legal system of our country; offering cheap propaganda to our enemies, and a reminder of the deep injustice any country is capable of committing when they abandon the rule of law, to seek a predetermined outcome. I have been Leonard’s friend since before he went to prison. I have never abandoned efforts to see him freed and I am asking anyone who hears or reads these remarks to learn something about the case by reading Peter Mathiessen’s book or going to www.freeleonard.org If you do, you will certainly want to do something. You might begin with a call or hand-written letter to your congress-person. Thank you.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/coyote/detail?entry_id=43892#ixzz0MZRIm5Lv
Imprisoned Native American Activist Leonard Peltier Parole Hearing
RIGHT NOW, today, Tuesday 28th, 2009!
Video tribute to Leonard Peltier Original music by Buggin Malone
Jennifer Wade says Peltier has spent 33 years in prison without admitting he murdered two FBI agents in 1975 during a shootout on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Peltier was a member of the American Indian Movement, which had clashed with the FBI on the reservation over several weeks.
Peltier and two others were charged in the agents’ deaths. The others claimed self-defence and were acquitted.
But Peltier had fled to Canada. He was extradited in 1976 based on a contested affidavit by a witness who claimed he was involved in the killings.
Wade, a justice activist and one-time Amnesty International worker, said Monday that doubts have been cast on the fairness of Peltier’s trial.
“I thought he would be released, oh so many times,” she said. “I’ve worked on his case since the beginning. I saw him taken away.”
Peltier’s defenders point to coercion of witnesses and phony affidavits. But despite one appeal court judge castigating the FBI’s conduct of the investigation, the conviction was upheld.
Peltier’s last parole hearing was in 1993. His supporters consider him a political prisoner.
They lobbied outgoing president Bill Clinton to grant Peltier clemency in 2000 but 500 FBI agents demonstrated outside the White House and the pardon was not granted.
Peltier is 65 now and in failing health.
Wade said she has kept in touch with Peltier, the last contact just after last Christmas, “a very sad letter, very sad.”
“He was a very young man that I saw led away and I knew it was wrong then and it’s been wrong all these years,” said Wade.
Actor Peter Coyote, good friend of Peltier, urges people to write their congressional representatives on behalf of Leonard Peltier’s release.
As of this year, my good friend, Native American leader Leonard Peltier, has been imprisoned for 29 years for a murder that even the government has no idea if he committed or not. The Appeals Court judge that sentenced him wrote a letter to President Clinton asking for clemency, and informing the President that the case had many errors in it, but that his hands had been tied. Furthermore, he held the FBI equally culpable for the events that started a massive fire-fight on the Sioux reservation that resulted in the deaths of two FBI agents.
Leonard has been in prison longer than many people convicted of murder. He has been eligible for parole for many years and every appeal has been denied. Both his parents have died while he was incarcerated and he has survived two attempts on his life; had his jaw wired shut after botched surgery and is now suffering from old age. During the 1996 Democratic Convention I asked a Deputy in the Justice Department about Leonard and he told me, “When you first spoke to me, I thought you were crazy. I’m embarrassed to say that everything you told me was the truth. All I can say is that there are some very powerful people in Washington that do not want to see him leave prison alive.”
Here are the facts of the case.
In 1973 the highest per capita murder rate in the country was the Sioux reservation at Pine Ridge. The head of Oglalla Sioux police force, a virtual dictator named Dick Wilson and his GOON Squad (Guardians of the Oglalla Nation) were systematically picking off everyone working for electoral reform on the reservation and traditional elders—more than 60 in that year alone. The situation got so bad, that the tribe’s elder women called the American Indian Movement (AIM) for help, and they arrived and set up an encampment, with women and children, schools and kitchens.
In this tense and murderous climate, on June 26, 1975, two FBI agents in unmarked cars followed a pick-up truck onto the Jumping Bull ranch supposedly to serve a warrant on a young boy who had stolen some cowboy boots. It also happened to be the same day that GOON Squad chief Dick Wilson was in Washington, illegally signing away the tribe’s uranium rights to multinational mining corporations. The families immediately became alarmed and feared an attack. Shots were heard and a shoot-out erupted. Tribal police had been readied as back-up outside the ranch, but when they heard the return fire, they abandoned the FBI men who were wounded, then eventually executed at close range. Everyone who was there insists that Leonard was minding the children and not even involved in the gun-fight. When they searched the bodies and found the Federal ID the Native leaders dispersed far and wide, correctly anticipating that the reservation would be over-run ‘y Federal forces. It was, and they shot it to pieces, instituting a week long reign of terror where elders were harassed and beaten, houses burned and shot up, and the native population terrorized.
Leonard was finally captured in Canada and brought to trial where he and his cohorts were freed by an all-white jury. The FBI was enraged and assembled a new case by fabricating evidence, suborning witnesses, breaking the chains of evidence, having witnesses perjure themselves—all errors cited by the Appeals judge who later petitioned on Leonard’s behalf, but despite numerous errors, Leonard was sentenced to life in prison.
His case was masterfully explained by author Peter Mathiessen in his book, The Spirit of Crazy Horse which was kept off bookstore and library shelves for eight years due to a suit brought by two FBI men who did not like the way they were portrayed. More than 16 million people around the world have signed petitions demanding his release. Amnesty International, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, National Congress of American Indians, the Robert F. Kennedy
Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev. Jesse Jackson, among many others, have called Leonard a political prisoner who should be immediately released. Even the government finally admitted they had no idea of who had killed the agents. Native warrior has confessed to the crime, but refuses to turn himself in saying it was an act of war.
29 years later Leonard languishes in prison, a political prisoner, tarnishing the reputation of the legal system of our country; offering cheap propaganda to our enemies, and a reminder of the deep injustice any country is capable of committing when they abandon the rule of law, to seek a predetermined outcome. I have been Leonard’s friend since before he went to prison. I have never abandoned efforts to see him freed and I am asking anyone who hears or reads these remarks to learn something about the case by reading Peter Mathiessen’s book or going to www.freeleonard.org If you do, you will certainly want to do something. You might begin with a call or hand-written letter to your congress-person. Thank you.
This story from http://www.NewsForNatives.com
Love him or hate him, Think he should remain in custody or think he never should have been, Please leave your comments below:
Leonard Peltier
As of this year, my good friend, Native American leader Leonard Peltier, has been imprisoned for 29 years for a murder that even the government has no idea if he committed or not. The Appeals Court judge that sentenced him wrote a letter to President Clinton asking for clemency, and informing the President that the case had many errors in it, but that his hands had been tied. Furthermore, he held the FBI equally culpable for the events that started a massive fire-fight on the Sioux reservation that resulted in the deaths of two FBI agents.
Leonard has been in prison longer than many people convicted of murder. He has been eligible for parole for many years and every appeal has been denied. Both his parents have died while he was incarcerated and he has survived two attempts on his life; had his jaw wired shut after botched surgery and is now suffering from old age. During the 1996 Democratic Convention I asked a Deputy in the Justice Department about Leonard and he told me, “When you first spoke to me, I thought you were crazy. I’m embarrassed to say that everything you told me was the truth. All I can say is that there are some very powerful people in Washington that do not want to see him leave prison alive.”
Here are the facts of the case.
In 1973 the highest per capita murder rate in the country was the Sioux reservation at Pine Ridge. The head of Oglalla Sioux police force, a virtual dictator named Dick Wilson and his GOON Squad (Guardians of the Oglalla Nation) were systematically picking off everyone working for electoral reform on the reservation and traditional elders—more than 60 in that year alone. The situation got so bad, that the tribe’s elder women called the American Indian Movement (AIM) for help, and they arrived and set up an encampment, with women and children, schools and kitchens.
In this tense and murderous climate, on June 26, 1975, two FBI agents in unmarked cars followed a pick-up truck onto the Jumping Bull ranch supposedly to serve a warrant on a young boy who had stolen some cowboy boots. It also happened to be the same day that GOON Squad chief Dick Wilson was in Washington, illegally signing away the tribe’s uranium rights to multinational mining corporations. The families immediately became alarmed and feared an attack. Shots were heard and a shoot-out erupted. Tribal police had been readied as back-up outside the ranch, but when they heard the return fire, they abandoned the FBI men who were wounded, then eventually executed at close range. Everyone who was there insists that Leonard was minding the children and not even involved in the gun-fight. When they searched the bodies and found the Federal ID the Native leaders dispersed far and wide, correctly anticipating that the reservation would be over-run ‘y Federal forces. It was, and they shot it to pieces, instituting a week long reign of terror where elders were harassed and beaten, houses burned and shot up, and the native population terrorized.
Leonard was finally captured in Canada and brought to trial where he and his cohorts were freed by an all-white jury. The FBI was enraged and assembled a new case by fabricating evidence, suborning witnesses, breaking the chains of evidence, having witnesses perjure themselves—all errors cited by the Appeals judge who later petitioned on Leonard’s behalf, but despite numerous errors, Leonard was sentenced to life in prison.
His case was masterfully explained by author Peter Mathiessen in his book, The Spirit of Crazy Horse which was kept off bookstore and library shelves for eight years due to a suit brought by two FBI men who did not like the way they were portrayed. More than 16 million people around the world have signed petitions demanding his release. Amnesty International, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, National Congress of American Indians, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev. Jesse Jackson, among many others, have called Leonard a political prisoner who should be immediately released. Even the government finally admitted they had no idea of who had killed the agents. Native warrior has confessed to the crime, but refuses to turn himself in saying it was an act of war.
29 years later Leonard languishes in prison, a political prisoner, tarnishing the reputation of the legal system of our country; offering cheap propaganda to our enemies, and a reminder of the deep injustice any country is capable of committing when they abandon the rule of law, to seek a predetermined outcome. I have been Leonard’s friend since before he went to prison. I have never abandoned efforts to see him freed and I am asking anyone who hears or reads these remarks to learn something about the case by reading Peter Mathiessen’s book or going to www.freeleonard.org If you do, you will certainly want to do something. You might begin with a call or hand-written letter to your congress-person. Thank you.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/coyote/detail?entry_id=43892#ixzz0MZR3h7Lv
[..YouTube..] Wow,killing is everywhere in the World
[..YouTube..] I understand the Peltier story but I don’t understand whay the vid has slave to do with blacks in it. I think if one is going to be respectful about Lenoards plight and cause then it wouldn’t be overshadowed or mixed in or interrupted with soemthing different. Like you said who ever is singing this song. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t trhow stone. I personal think the vid woudl be best if it was just about him not you.
[..YouTube..] Wow… So many views on this video. It shocks me that so many people know about this because well, I’m related to him O__o… It’s on my moms side of the family. I’m not sure how I am, but I know for a fact I am.
[..YouTube..] trippyndn u obviously dont know what your talking about cause if u did and ur native u would be ashamed of what u said here..alot of people died because of the sins of mankind and still do today..please read ur history
[..YouTube..] Trimbach stay the fuck off my page
[..YouTube..] I love our people, and our culture. I do not love the people in AIM who have, because of their behavior, permanently endangered traditional Natives and are now being labeled “Terrorists” because of AIM. THANKS AIM!!! And Thanks AIM for killing our own people!!! Anna Mae and her best friend… The Hit carried out be Leonard Peltier!! AIM are fu@*!ng traitors to their/our own people! All AIM wanted to do was stir the shit, total anarchy!!
[..YouTube..] Irish mother Cherokee dad
our people do have solidarity
when the Brits got done screwing my mom’s people
they came after my dad’s people
all in he name of religion of course
[..YouTube..] Lets start a Riot and free Peltier
[..YouTube..] aho….black and brown power!!
[..YouTube..] white lies white stories white money white control white way white this white that and finaly we are INDIAINS WE WILL BE ON TOP FOREVER NOW WE FIGHT WITH VENOM AND VENOM FUCK THE FBI
[..YouTube..] Spirit o bison!Stampede their ass’s!Time is NOW 4 march on D.C.They don’ liston,we take prison brick by brick.We trust Gov.B4 BIG mistake!All spirits on our side.what r we waiting 4?Ma’Erth,Pa Sky,all on our side. Left 2 Gov.earth may live but many die.I’ll quit my job if tha’s what it takes.Real people unite!
[..YouTube..] Spirit o bison!Stampede their ass’s!Time is NOW 4 march on D.C.They don’ liston,we take prison brick by brick.We trust Gov.B4 BIG mistake!All spirits on our side.what r we waiting 4?Ma’Erth,Pa Sky,all on our side. Left 2 Gov.earth may live but many die.I’ll quit my job if tha’s what it takes.Real people unite!
[..YouTube..] Beutiful vid!Thnx.Yes,Leonard is like Mandala and we can FREE HIM!Waiting 4 Obama or any Pol. to do it is big ass mistake.they only 4 them& $.I’m white I guess;Euro descent anyway,but I’m no citizen!GOV>Cops,none ever did me any favors.Just ‘cuz we got intnet lets don’t frget old ways.We got feet,we got unity,we got strength in numbers&we got spirits on our side
[..YouTube..] Beutiful vid!Thnx.Yes,Leonard is like Mandala and we can FREE HIM!Waiting 4 Obama or any Pol. to do it is big ass mistake.they only 4 them& $.I’m white I guess;Euro descent anyway,but I’m no citizen!GOV>Cops,none ever did me any favors.Just ‘cuz we got intnet lets don’t frget old ways.We got feet,we got unity,we got strength in numbers&we got spirits on our side
[..YouTube..] Impeach Obama He is NOT listening to the people of this Country!
[..YouTube..] US afrikans here in Amerikkka are with you…power to the people
[..YouTube..] US afrikans here in Amerikkka are with you…power to the people
[..YouTube..] what if someday all the native american races came together as one and lets take over this bitch like we did back in the day
[..YouTube..] YUP THIS SHIT IS LIFE
[..YouTube..] Although he has been denied parole once again, we must fight on. Write or e mail President Obama to grant immediate clemency for Leonard so that he can return to his family and his people. He will be 65 on Sept. 12. 34 years as a political prisoner is unconcionable. All that has come before is unconcionable. Fight together and we will overcome this injustice. Make those involved in the Reign of Terror accountable. Make the FBI accountable.
Fight On!
Mitakuye Oyasin
[..YouTube..] Although he has been denied parole once again, we must fight on. Write or e mail President Obama to grant immediate clemency for Leonard so that he can return to his family and his people. He will be 65 on Sept. 12. 34 years as a political prisoner is unconcionable. All that has come before is unconcionable. Fight together and we will overcome this injustice. Make those involved in the Reign of Terror accountable. Make the FBI accountable.
Fight On!
Mitakuye Oyasin
[..YouTube..] In the UK we have same shit… kill a fed and stay in jail forever, whatever they did. You have to understand that these psychotic bastards think they’re special.
[..YouTube..] In the UK we have same shit… kill a fed and stay in jail forever, whatever they did. You have to understand that these psychotic bastards think they’re special.
[..YouTube..] In the UK we have same shit… kill a fed and stay in jail forever, whatever they did. You have to understand that these psychotic bastards think they’re special.
[..YouTube..] I agree and natives were had again but this time by a rich black man,he will never be free not even Obama will free him.
God bless Leonard Peltier! execution bollocks! it was self-defense!
[..YouTube..] God bless Leonard Peltier!
execution bollocks! it was self-defense!
[..YouTube..] God bless Leonard Peltier!
execution bollocks! it was self-defense!
[..YouTube..] God bless Leonard Peltier!
execution bollocks! it was self-defense!
[..YouTube..] It is a crying shame that this supposed justice system once again failed by not freeing Leonard. Prayers continue for this warrior and his family.
Bear Warrior
[..YouTube..] Parole Denied, Aug, 21.
Why give him parole he is only another red skin, we took their land away
and their livilihood , sent them off to reservations and infested them with
smallpox. They should be thankful. These people have been exploited since
the first pilgrim arrived in America, including blacks, asian and
hispanics. We stole there land away from the indians and mexicans, as a
form of restitution we incarcerate them. This miscarriage of justice,
America shame on you! you have nothing to proud of on the contrary.
[..YouTube..] Why give him parole he is only another red skin, we took their land away and their livilihood , sent them off to reservations and infested them with smallpox. They should be thankful. These people have been exploited since the first pilgrim arrived in America, including blacks, asian and hispanics.
We stole there land away from the indians and mexicans, as a form of restitution we incarcerate them. This miscarriage of justice, America shame on you! you have nothing to proud of on the contrary.
[..YouTube..] why would this matter? It’s already been proven that polygraph results are inaccurate.
[..YouTube..] august 18th- deadline for a decision by the parole board FREE LEONARD!!!!!!!!
thanks for doin this vid, i really think you dun justice by it….. thanks for posting it
FBI blah!
[..YouTube..] FBI blah!
[..YouTube..] Hmmm Professor.. That would be Leonard not Leanard. Hopefully you teach history better than you comprehend and spell. Perhaps if you taught the story, instead of HIS tory you wouldn’t be so offended.
[..YouTube..] Let Leonard Peltier take a lie detector test given by a certified polygraph examiner. I can even arrange it to be done on national television.
If he passes then he would be guaranteed clemency. If he failed he would spend the rest of his life in jail. Is Leonard so assured of his innocence that he is willing to do this?
[..YouTube..] i understand the resentment but honestly, im not fooled by revisionist history…and what you’re saying has nothing to do with what i said. this video is racist, intolerant and hateful…if you want to be perceived that way then by all means, do so…its doesnt matter to me, you can have peace or you can have war.
we all know how it turned out for you last time.
[..YouTube..] That’s because our interpretation is different than yours. The white man has been killing in the name of God in this country for over 500 years when it clearley states in the bible “Thou shall not kill.”
[..YouTube..] you must still believe there was no houlacoust
[..YouTube..] as a professor of history i find your interpretation of history ridiculous and incorrect.
as a white person i find that your interpretation of white people is offensive, ignorant and racist.
as a Christian i see your interpretation of my religion is intolerant and hateful.
hate and intolerance will not get you very far in life, ask leanard peltiar.
He had a parole hearing on july. 2809. According to his lawyer a decision
will be made by aug.18/09
[..YouTube..] He had a parole hearing on july. 2809. According to his lawyer a decision will be made by aug.18/09
[..YouTube..] The incarceration of this man is an egregious miscarriage of “justice”.
[..YouTube..] thanks you for this very moving tribute to our brother
free leonard peltier, mumia abu jamal, and all other political prisoners!
[..YouTube..] free leonard peltier, mumia abu jamal, and all other political prisoners!
[..YouTube..] free leonard peltier, mumia abu jamal, and all other political prisoners!