>From: "LPDC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Support Peltier's Release by Parole!
>
>***Here is the telephone campaign instructions and the sample letters for
>the current campaign to free Leonard Peltier. February 6 will be a prime
>time to begin implementing these plans into action. Let us know how it
>goes!***
>
>
>YEAR 2000! LEONARD PELTIER FREEDOM CAMPAIGN CONTINUES!
> HOW TO HELP, WHO TO CALL, WHAT TO DO!
>
>Dear Friends,
>
>Let us start this letter by thanking everyone for the incredible work they
>did for Leonard throughout the fall. It was a long hard pull and everyone
>made a lot of sacrifices of sleep, time, leg work and phone call bills, but
>we are seeing real results. The human rights network in Washington DC is now
>very much back on the case as an urgent and current issue; and this is very
>important to us since these people work on a daily basis with members of
>Congress and often have access to important White House contacts. One friend
>is already pushing hard with a high level official she has known for years.
>We got word from insider contacts that certain other officials were strongly
>urging President Clinton to give clemency, a situation that provoked the
>predictable rage from the FBI. We know for a fact that the White House
>telephone campaign played a real role in putting the pressure on all of
>these people. For those of you who participated, good job! Meanwhile, old
>friends from across country began to tune in as well, and contacted us with
>new clues and information and offers of support, all of which have been very
>helpful.
>
>Perhaps most importantly, Native supporters, leaders, artists, and friends
>from across the U.S. and Canada arrived in DC to help out, re-connect, and
>deepen their commitment to the campaign for Leonard Peltier's release. So
>much for the FBI claim that Leonard is a �nobody�, and that Native people do
>not support him! For more information about who participated, and some of
>our plans for the spring, take a look at our report on the web site.
>Meanwhile, the Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine and
>his delegation has visited with Leonard in person, and a delegation of Nobel
>Peace Prize laureates is expected in February to press for Leonard's release
>as well. We are working on other delegations as well as some legal
>strategies, and will get back to everyone soon on all of the plans.
>In short, things are definitely heating up. Although Clinton did not grant
>clemency over Christmas, he could do so at any time during the coming year.
>A good bet is right after the elections, especially his wife�s. But we do
>not have to wait until then: the parole board will consider Leonard�s case
>again this coming May. We should keep the pressure going right now to
>release Leonard at once, either through clemency or parole.
>
>There are many ways for each and every one of to help, and Leonard needs
>each and every one of us. For those of us with full time jobs and families,
>there is much critically important work to be done in your home region:
>
>I. TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN:
>We need to crank up our national telephone campaign to a much higher decibel
>level. Last fall was a very good start, but the pressure has to increase and
>remain constant, so they know that we are not just around for a little
>while, and that no one is about to forget about Leonard. US officials need
>to know that we are here to stay, and that they had better do something if
>they want to stay in office, or get into office during an election year.
>
>We have known for a while that if thirty calls about a certain issue go to
>the White House comments line on the same day, a note goes upstairs to the
>President. Thirty calls is not all that much, but it is in fact hard to get
>most average citizens to take these calls seriously...because they are
>convinced that no one pays any attention. So our first task, as always, is
>to organize. We want to go for one hundred calls a day to the White House
>during these months before Leonard's parole hearing.
>This does not mean each one of us needs to call every single day although
>that would be great if you have the time to do this. However, we only need
>each of you to organize a calling session for once a week. We need one
>hundred calls to go in each day from a given region of the US. The northeast
>people call on Mondays. The southeast calls on Tuesdays, the mid-west calls
>on Wednesday, the northwest calls on Thursday and the southwest calls on
>Friday.
>
>Each one of us needs to organize a small committee of friends to call on
>their day of the week. Once a week is enough, but you must convince your
>friends and family that they must really call, not just think about calling.
>This means getting them really mad about the case, and explaining to them
>that their calls really do have impact, and that these efforts are not a
>waste of time. Experience tells us that these calls are effective. Jennifer
>Harbury heard from US officials that the massive calling sessions during her
>hunger strikes in Guatemala played a critical role in forcing government
>action. The feedback from last fall was really good as well. Our friends in
>Congress have also let us know that a high volume of calls shows them that
>their voters are really interested in a given issue. If dozens of calls
>start coming in on the same issue, they pay careful attention. So for those
>of you who have limited time and want to help, please know how much your
>calls really matter. Try and get a group of ten committed people going in
>your area. Remind everyone each week to make their calls and ask them to let
>you know at the end of the day how the calls went. Getting feedback from our
>teams really helps us plan our strategies.
>
>Most people will feel more confident and involved if you give them some
>basic information before they start calling. Give them the six page fact
>summary to read, if they don't have time for one of the books. It is
>available on our web site, or you can call and ask us to mail it to you.
>
>As for the message itself, we are shifting gears just a bit so, as to best
>take advantage of the coming parole hearing. We have just a few months to
>push for this, so we need to get going. The issues are slightly different
>from the arguments we have made for clemency�since it is not up to the
>parole board to decide if Leonard is guilty or innocent, (that is up to the
>courts)...but rather, whether or not he qualifies for parole, based on a
>number of special factors. So here is a summary of the most important points
>to make during your calls.
>
>I. White House Comments Line Calls 202-456-1111 (press 0 to bypass taped
>message)
>
>Call the White House Comments line and leave a careful message with the
>operator. It does not matter whether this person sounds interested or
>sympathetic; his or her job is to note down the number of calls and send the
>message on upstairs. They will not give us much time to talk, so try to get
>in the following key points :
>
>a. You are calling to ask that President Clinton contact the United States
>Parole Commission and voice his support for parole for Leonard Peltier.
>
>b. Leonard is many years overdue for parole, and has served longer than most
>other prisoners with similar convictions. He has been a model prisoner for
>24 years, with no record of violence.
>
>c. Leonard Peltier has long contributed to humanitarian efforts by raising
>scholarship monies, serving on the advisory board to the Rosenberg Fund for
>Children, doing an annual Christmas drive for the people of the Pine Ridge
>reservation, assisting the people of Chiapas, sponsoring children in
>Guatemala and El Salvador, setting up Native American entrepreneurial
>programs, and a newspaper, organizing prisoner art programs and much more.
>He has also received many human rights awards for his efforts.
>
>d. Leonard Peltier is now in deteriorating health and cannot receive
>adequate medical care in prison. He should be released for medical and
>humanitarian reasons.
>
>e. As we all know, there is disturbing evidence that the FBI falsified the
>evidence against him during his trial. Leonard was extradited on the basis
>of a false affidavit signed by Myrtle Poor Bear, who had been threatened by
>the FBI. The younger witnesses at trial had all been severely intimidated.
>The FBI also concealed a ballistics test showing that the fatal bullet was
>never fired from the rifle claimed to belong to Mr. Peltier. The FBI agents
>also changed their description of the vehicle involved in the shoot out, so
>as to better link Mr. Peltier to the skirmish. Even the U.S. Attorney has
>admitted that no one knows who pulled the trigger on June 26, 1975. An
>innocent man has now been imprisoned for 24 years.
>
>f. Mr. Clinton made a grave mistake by not granting clemency to Mr. Peltier.
>We hope he will correct this error at once by contacting the parole
>commission and supporting Mr. Peltier's release. Time is running out.
>
>II. Calls to Congress 202-224-3121 :
>If your group is willing to make additional calls, please ask them to call
>your Congresspersons and educate them about this case. The switchboard will
>connect you to the main office, and you should ask to speak with the
>legislative aid in charge of civil rights issues in the U.S. Tell them that
>you want urgent action taken on Leonard Peltier's behalf, and that you would
>like them to support both clemency and parole in this case. The basic points
>are the same as the ones to make during the White House calls. You should
>also ask them to hold hearings on FBI abuses in this case. If they need
>further information, send them the 6-page fact summary on our web site, or
>call us at 785-842-5774 and we will send you a packet of support letters and
>other materials.
>
>We are in the process of organizing a Dear Colleague letter supporting
>parole, to be signed by as many members as possible of both Houses. As soon
>as we have our initial sponsor, we will put the letter on our web site and
>ask you to press for your rep to add his or her signature to the letter.
>This will be very very important as well. We want at least 100 signatures.
>It will mean a lot of work but will be well worth it. We will also be
>sending a special request to those of you living in the districts of
>sympathetic reps. asking them to BE our initial sponsor.
>
>III. Telephone campaign to the Department of Justice:
>If people would like to also call or fax a brief message to the offices of
>Janet Reno, this would also be helpful. The correct number is 202-305-1400.
>The basic message should be quite brief and courteous, as we want her to
>investigate FBI conduct in this case, and most importantly, to support
>Leonard's clemency and parole petitions. Here are the most important points:
>
>a. We would like for Janet Reno to communicate with the US Parole Commission
>and express her full support for parole for Mr.Peltier
>
>b. Mr. Peltier has been in prison for 24 years and has an excellent record.
>He has participated in many humanitarian efforts, including the annual
>Christmas drive for Pine Ridge Reservation, a his work for Native American
>scholarships, entrepreneurial programs and Native American newspapers, his
>sponsorship of Central American children, and his service as an advisory
>board member to the Rosenberg Fund for Children. He is nevertheless long
>overdue for parole, and has served more time than most other prisoners
>convicted of the same crimes. We want this matter resolved as soon as
>possible.
>
>c. Mr. Peltier is in deteriorating health and cannot receive adequate
>medical care in prison.
>
>d. There is disturbing evidence that the FBI in fact coerced and intimidated
>witnesses, utilized false testimonies, and concealed a ballistics test
>reflecting his innocence. FBI agents also changed their description of the
>vehicle involved in the shoot out so, as to unjustly implicate Mr. Peltier.
>The result of this FBI misconduct has been that Leonard Peltier has spent 24
>years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Time is running out for
>setting this matter straight.
>
>e. Accordingly, we ask that Ms. Reno fully and publicly support Mr.Peltier's
>petition for parole; that she take urgent steps to assure that the FBI and
>other Justice officials will not improperly obstruct his parole as they have
>in the past; and that she immediately call for a full investigation of FBI
>abuses in this case.
>
>IV. LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF PAROLE
>It is also really important that everyone write letters supporting Leonard's
>petition for parole. In the past there have always been a number of letters
>written for him: so we need to get far more such letters this year. These
>can be quite simple, and should just cover the basic points important for
>parole decisions. A sample letter is set forth here. Feel free to use it,
>but its even better if you can write one in your own words. The lawyers urge
>that the tone be courteous and concise (after all, the number one goal is to
>get the man OUT NOW). Then get as many friends to sign similar letters as
>you can. Carry a sheaf of spare letters with you. The best is to get one
>signature per letter, not petition form, our insider friends tell us.
>
>Most important, PLEASE SEND THE LETTERS BACK TO US HERE!! We will compile
>them all together and get them bound for Carl Nadler, the parole attorney
>for Leonard. That way he can present stacks of letters all at the same time.
>This will be more impressive than having them trickle in. We will keep
>copies for use with Congress, the press, White House contacts etc, as well.
>
>SAMPLE LETTER:
>
>To: The United States Parole Commission
>
>Dear Commissioners,
>
>As a concerned citizen of this country, I am writing to express my full
>support for parole for Mr. Leonard Peltier. Mr. Peltier is a Native American
>leader who has now been incarcerated for some 24 years. He has served far
>longer than most prisoners convicted of similar crimes, and his conduct in
>prison has been excellent. I would be honored to receive him in my own home
>when he is released.
>
>I am particularly impressed with the many good deeds Mr. Peltier has carried
>out during his many years behind bars. He has worked with medical experts to
>improve health care delivery on the reservations, and has helped to
>establish an entrepreneur program for talented Native youth. He was
>instrumental in setting up a Native American scholarship program at New York
>University, and helped start up a Native American newspaper in Washington
>State. He has sponsored two children in rural El Salvador and Guatemala, and
>runs annual clothing and toy drives for the people of Pine Ridge
>Reservation, half way houses, and women's centers. He has also played a key
>role in assisting other prisoners� display their art work across country, in
>order to promote prisoner art programs and increase prisoner self-confidence
>and esteem. This man has proven himself to be a compassionate human being
>and a true leader.
>I am especially concerned with Mr. Peltier's deteriorating health. He is now
>55 years old, and suffers from a heart condition as well as diabetes. He has
>lost most of the vision in one eye due to poor medical care. He also has a
>jaw condition, which causes him constant pain and prevents him from moving
>his jaw or chewing his food. Mayo Clinic specialist, Dr. Keller has offered
>free treatment in prison facilities has weigh in favor of parole.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>V. General Support Letters from Community Organizations:
>
>We also need to start stockpiling general letters of support from every
>community organization we can reach. This has a double benefit. First, it
>educated these organizations about Leonard's case, and pulls them into our
>support network; and second, during an election year it is very important to
>have piles of CURRENT letters on letterheads that represent large numbers of
>angry voters.
>This letter should just be addressed to "all concerned US officials". That
>way we can use them for our work with Congress, meetings with Janet Reno,
>and our efforts to work with the White House and Presidential Wannabees.
>
>AGAIN, PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF THE LETTER AND SEND US THE ORIGINALS SO WE CAN
>COMPILE A BOUND COPY OF THEM AND SEND COPIES ALL OUT TOGETHER TO OFFICIALS
>WE ARE TRYING TO REACH.
>
>A sample letter is set forth here but feel free to change it or have the
>community group change it or start from scratch as they wish.
>
>The challenge here is to go to every labor union, civic group, student
>group, religious organization or congregation, lawyers or doctors�
>organizations, women's association, civil rights group etc., in your
>community that you can reach. Have them put the letter on their letterhead
>paper and send it back to us. If you know a person of status, such as a
>well-known local religious leader, or professor etc., an individual letter
>is also good. (While you are at it, have them all join you're delegation to
>visit your congressperson and senators. Make sure you have our fact sheet
>with you and other support letters as well. Again, these are on our web
>site, but if you need us to mail them to you, just give us a call.
>
>To: All Concerned United States Officials
>
>We wish to express our grave concern about the case of Mr. Leonard Peltier,
>a Native American leader who has now been incarcerated for some 24 years
>here in the United States. He has long been recognized as a political
>prisoner, by such human rights luminaries as, Amnesty International, the
>Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, the
>Rev. Jesse Jackson and, the Dalai Lama, the Archbishop of Canterbury and
>many others. He has the massive support of the Native American people of
>this country. More than any other person, he has come to symbolize the
>tragic and disturbing relationship between the United States government and
>its own Native citizenry.
>
>We are particularly disquieted by the clear indications of FBI misconduct in
>the prosecution of this case. Specifically, Mr. Peltier was extradited from
>Canada on the basis of an affidavit signed by a Ms. Myrtle Poor Bear, who
>claimed to be an eyewitness to the murders in question. She later admitted
>that she had never met Mr. Peltier, and had signed only after being
>terrorized by FBI officials. However, she was not permitted to testify about
>this matter at his trial. The other young trial witnesses were intimidated
>and coerced as well by FBI officers. Moreover, at the trial a key FBI
>witness changed his long-standing description of the vehicle involved in the
>shoot out, so as to unjustly link Mr. Peltier to the scene. Perhaps most
>chillingly, the FBI concealed from the defense a ballistic test report
>reflecting Mr. Peltier's innocence. It would seem clear enough that a gifted
>Native American leader has just served twenty-four years in prison for a
>crime he did not commit.
>
>Despite the above, Mr. Peltier has been denied a new trial and is now
>overdue for parole. He has served more time than most prisoners convicted of
>the same crimes. His conduct in prison has been exemplary and he has
>participated in numerous humanitarian and civic activities from behind bars.
>By way of illustration, he has helped to establish Native American
>scholarships, and special programs for Native American youth. He has served
>on the advisory board of the Rosenberg Fund for Children, and has sponsored
>children in Central America, organized the annual Christmas drive for the
>people of Pine Ridge Reservation, and promoted prisoner art programs. He is
>clearly a man of great compassion, and should have been set free long ago
>through the mechanisms of parole or clemency.
>
>Lastly, we note that Mr. Peltier is now 55 years of age and in deteriorating
>health. He suffers from a heart condition as well as diabetes. He has lost
>most of the vision in one eye due to poor medical care. He also has a jaw
>condition, which causes him constant pain and makes it impossible to chew
>his food properly or move his jaw. The prison medical staff has been unable
>to treat Mr. Peltier. Although a Mayo Clinic specialist has offered to
>assist, free of charge, within prison facilities, authorization has been
>denied.
>
>Soon it will be too late for justice in this tragic case. Should Mr. Peltier
>become disabled or die in prison, the damage to our relations with our
>Native American citizens will be irreversible. We ask that urgent action be
>taken to set Mr. Peltier free at long last so that he may share his gifts
>with his beloved people. We also ask that a thorough investigation of FBI
>misconduct in this case, and indeed with respect to the residents of Pine
>Ridge Reservation, be carried out at once. Until there is justice for all,
>our most dearly held concepts of democracy remain at risk.
>
>Respectfully,
>
>
>
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>
>Call the White House Comments Line Today
>Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111
>
>Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
>PO Box 583
>Lawrence, KS 66044
>785-842-5774
>www.freepeltier.org
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