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..] @jondwog1 Who Done It?
Price’s prediction obviously came true. But, the FBI claims that it was AIM itself who murdered Aquash as a suspected informer. There exists a video confession from Arlo Looking Cloud, who alleges that he was present when another AIM foot soldier, John Boy Graham, shot her. Looking Cloud was convicted of aiding a first-degree murder.
[..YouTube..] @Walkincrow ( I believe you in your claims of the rape but freeing Leonard for the murder charges) < You believe that based on what ? I looked and looked and cannot find one mention of any such thing. You believe something said because its said, theres a name for that but I`ll spare you.
[..YouTube..] @ninjajeebus : Rape you say huh a little info required how about posting some links or some substantiation, or as I suspect are you just a lying troll ?
[..YouTube..] @halconsurf : I voted for Obama as well and hes just another tool a useless sold out corrupt tool !: Leonard will still be in jail when his dishonest black ass leaves the White House.
[..YouTube..] @Walkincrow : I believe you in your claims of the rape but freeing Leonard << Then your a idiot google or wikki it ! and you will find no mention. These people are liars like most of a certain race !
[..YouTube..] VERY GOOD
[..YouTube..] like
[..YouTube..] your words, Bunky’s artwork, and the talent you have you should hook up with snoop dogg and do a remix w/ him backing you, too. Bet he’d say yes…………..
[..YouTube..] If the bullet don’t fit… you must acquit.
[..YouTube..] “Dinneh”
[..YouTube..] leonard was openly violent toward whites, he raped and killed many. he deserves what he got
[..YouTube..] @jondwog1 – I believe you in your claims of the rape but freeing Leonard for the murder charges is what this video is about. What bad things people do in their past is subject to forgiveness. If forgiveness is not possible then one should not dwell on the wrong but live life to the best of their ability. I offer my sorrows to your wrongs. May the Great Spirit bless you and your beautiful family forever. Peace!
Walkincrow Out!
[..YouTube..] let lenard Go we do not forget
[..YouTube..] I love this song and posted it up on my facebook to share with others. I read alot of other peoples responses, mostly good-but of course there has to be the closed minded a–holes out there, who dont really know the truth about what the native camericans were and still are fighting for- for our culture back-everything that was tooken, what about the kids that had to go to the boarding schools and get beaten for speaking their language or not praying to a god they did not know.
[..YouTube..] the native revolution is coming keep your eyes and ears open
[..YouTube..] I really luv dis, our story hea in Hawaii is just the same….they try to take out all the indiginous people of the land but they cant…..we all be fighting all the way for peltier.
[..YouTube..] This isnt about the video but I that I read a book written by a man with this name but I can’t remember what the name of it was?
[..YouTube..] Great lyrical talent.. I enjoyed this message..thank you for sharing…and not forgetting… :-)
[..YouTube..] Excellent writing, message, art work, originality and creativity!!! I’m surprised you don’t have more views!
Kalynn
[..YouTube..] Leonard wont be freed until Washington gets a diplomatic kick from some nation out there. they wont risk a trade deal over Leonard!
[..YouTube..] Leonard is a bastard, he raped Anna Mae Aquash and then ordered her murder, and then he wraps himself in the AIM flag, and expects all Native Americans to support him, just because he is one of us, to hell with that creep.
Ask Anna Mae’s daughters what they think of that piece of work.
I grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Rez and the Lakota’s are our traditional allies, my family knew many of the people involved in this tragady, as my father was involved with AIM in the 70’s.
Let him rot.
[..YouTube..] dude man
this is starting to get boring.
let’s just end this
[..YouTube..] @gerryono Sarcasm And Ignorance Are NOT the Same Thing,And i can tell the difference thanks…
[..YouTube..] AWESOME.. AWESOME SONG KEEP IT UP !!! my two thumbs are waaaay up
= D
[..YouTube..] indigenous people are sweet and noble people as i know and died been noble tyll the end i hear the white men saids indians are the most corrupt it people on earth well that is not true the white man program them with drugs and guns and they go to church and tell jesus to forgive them sins how cool is that
[..YouTube..] Hell Yes! Free Leonard Peltier! NOW IT’S TIME!
[..YouTube..] @whitebuffalo22002 Hey I’m on the your side….I know the red man got a raw deal and I try to make it right the best way I can. I’m not the enemy.
[..YouTube..] @whitebuffalo22002 Hey I’m on the your side….I know the red man got a raw deal and I try to make it right the best way I can. I’m not the enemy.
[..YouTube..] @KissySquirrel this is my land the whiteman is tresspassing
[..YouTube..] @KissySquirrel this is my land the whiteman is tresspassing
[..YouTube..] wow, way to detect sarcasm.
calm down man
[..YouTube..] @gerryono I guess you missed the scene in the video with a sign reading “I AM Not A Mascot!”
[..YouTube..] @subsamadhi when you have been behind bars for 12,470 Days i doubt much that you nit pick the people who choose to bring light too you and support you and speak for you…Professionalism and Heart both have there upsides and equal platform to those willing to listen…
[..YouTube..] @gerryono Well isn’t it?….I don’t see any sports teams called, the “Honky’s” or the “Paleskins”. And I certainly don’t go around saying, “That honky needs to fry in the electric chair”. All I ask is that you do your research fully before you judge. Keeping in mind how “truthful” our govt is. LOL
[..YouTube..] @gerryono Well isn’t it?….I don’t see any sports teams called, the “Honky’s” or the “Paleskins”. And I certainly don’t go around saying, “That honky needs to fry in the electric chair”. All I ask is that you do your research fully before you judge. Keeping in mind how “truthful” our govt is. LOL
[..YouTube..] @MountainGyspy
Geez, touchy
Next you’ll say that the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins are bigoted!
[..YouTube..] @skyeagle31 Amen.
[..YouTube..] MountainGyspy I agree the term Injun is raciest and a disgrace. Mr. Peltier is innocent he was once again denied a fair trial.That gerryono needs to read up on Mr. peltier before he speaks.
[..YouTube..] @gerryono He was denied a FAIR trail b/c SOMEONE HAD TO PAY. If you did your research you’d know that’s a quote by a govt official. I may not have been there, but I do know how crocked the govt is and what they have done. I believe Mr. Peltier with all my heart. The term “Injun” is raciest.
[..YouTube..] u are talking to ur own ignorance gerryono
[..YouTube..] @MountainGyspy
not wanting to release a convicted murderer is racism?
[..YouTube..] Mr. Peltier, I’m still here for you!
[..YouTube..] @gerryono
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOU FOOL?! Take your ignorance somewhere else.
[..YouTube..] To gerryono if you can’t say anything nice then don’t bother posting. Leonard Peltier is innocent he did nothing wrong. As for this song is and awesome song it has a lot of meaning to it. I’m 1/3 Sioux and proud of who I am. We need to keep pushing to sent this man free.
[..YouTube..] How about YOU instead?
[..YouTube..] you need to go back to youer own country
[..YouTube..] White people where the first one to scalp. Learn your real history >.>
[..YouTube..] Leonard Peltier?
This injun deserves a good scalping in the electric chair!
[..YouTube..] Contact your local and federal officials and demand that Leonard be released!!!
[..YouTube..] I’ve written a little group-singing song for Leonard.
watch?v=cPSKKeAWFgY
Free Leonard Peltier!
Shas Cho