please post widely
HUNGER STRIKE STATEMENT by Arthur J. Miller, NWLPSN
END THE TORTURE OF LEONARD PELTIER NOW!
In our world today, there are so many important struggles the people
are faced with. For the effects of the evil madness of power and greed
manifests itself in nearly every aspect of our existence. Some times
the reality of this can overwhem us. Whereas, it is important that no
wrong be overlooked, that a voice be given to all those that suffer, but
there comes a time when all those who struggle must come together
and take a stand. For we all know that all things are connected, our
struggles, no matter how many miles apart they maybe, no matter how
many different names may be applied to our struggles, the root cause of
the suffering of all is within the decadent lust for power and greed by but
a few people who walk this earth.
The case of Leonard Peltier is not just about what the U.S.
Government is willing to do to one man, one activist, one indigenous
person, though that is important also, it is also about the continuing
U.S. Government policy of genocide of indigenous people. A policy of
taking all that they have and giving nothing in return. Leonard Peltier
represents the resistance to this policy.
There is a very clear reason why what happened on the Pine Ridge
Oglala Lakota Reservation on June 26, 1975 took place, for which
Leonard has now spent 23 years locked-up for. The U.S. Government
was acting in the interests of the nuclear power/weapons industry in
trying to steal more Lakota land where uranium had been found. The
U.S. Government knew that the traditional Lakota people would resist,
so they set out to suppress that resistance. Many traditional Lakota
people were terrorized and murdered by a death squad. When the
traditional Lakota people asked the American Indian Movement (AIM) for
help, among those that answered that request was Leonard Peltier.
The FBI sought to destory the resistance and on June 26, 1975 they
tryed to provoke an incident that they could use as a justification to
suppress AIM. In the same arrogance that Gen. Custer had shown a
hundred years before, the FBI did not believe that any people were
capable of defending themselves against the invaders might. That
mistake costed the lives of two FBI agents on that day.
Leonard became the target of the U.S. Government's outrage that
someone had dared to resist their unholy desires. Leonard was
extradited from Canada based upon lies from the U.S. Government.
Leonard was convicted based upon fabricated evidence, coerced
witnesses and by a judge who would not allow self-defense evidence.
The U.S. Government believed that Leonard would no longer be able
to continue his resistance, for they buried in the dungeons of the Marion
Federal Prison. But Leonard continued to speak out against the injustice
that had been done to him and his people. People began to hear his
words and a support movement grew. The U.S. Government came to
fear Leonard's power of unbreakable spirit and resistance. They tried
many things to break Leonard, they even tried to assassinate him.
Now they are trying outright torture.
Though Leonard has taken the full impact of the genocidal policies
of the U.S. Government and he has become a living representation
of the resistance to those policies, Leonard is also a man. A man who
has been locked up for 23 years in a cold lonely cell. Away from his
family, away from his hopes and dreams, away from the land of his
people. There are not the words in our language that can be given to
truely explain to you the great suffering Leonard has been forced to
endure. And now he lives every day in continuous, excruciating pain.
The time has come for all people who believe in social justice to pull
together in the spirit of unity and as one strong voice and DEMAND THE
END OF THE TORTURE OF LEONARD PELTIER NOW! As a means to
call attention to the torture of Leonard and as an act of solidarity with
Leonard, the Leonard Peltier Solidarity Fast/Hunger Strike has been
organized. Over 55 people across the U.S. and in Canada, France,
Basque Country, Russia, South Africa, Spain and Italy will be fasting. I
am honored to be among these people.
Starting on Feb. 6th I will begin a hunger strike that will continue as
long as it is neccessary. Yes, there are risks involved in such an action.
For I am not a well person. I suffer from kidney disease, more than likely
from a great amount of exposure to lead when I work for the Bunker Hill
Mining Company. Over 56% of my co-workers at Bunker Hill also suffer
from this disease. I cannot do anything about what happen at Bunker
Hill now. But I know in my heart that the same greed that has led to the
suffering of my co-workers and myself is the same greed that is causing
Leonard's suffering.
For 20 years now I have been trying to aid Leonard's struggle through
writing and organizing. For 20 years I have seen Leonard suffer because
he will not give in to the forces of evil. And now those forces are torturing
him. The time has come for me to take my commitment to a higher
level, and for one person there is no higher level than their own life.
We, the fasters of the Leonard Peltier Solidarity Fast/Hunger Strike
ask for your active support. In supporting this action, you will not only be
acting in solidarity with Leonard, you will not only be acting in support of
the fasters from different lands, but you will be acting in your own
interest also. For what has, and continues to be done to Leonard can be
done to any person who resists the forces of power and greed. Leonard
is locked up in the iron house and is suffering for us, the people, we the
people need to take a stand for Leonard and demand the end of the
torture of Leonard Peltier now!
In Solidarity
Arthur J. Miller
coordinator,
Northwest Leonard Peltier
Support Network
END THE TORTURE OF LEONARD PELTIER NOW!
Ojibwa-Lakota American Indian Movement activist and political prisoner
Leonard Peltier is suffering continuous, excruciating pain because the
the federal Bureau Of Prisons refuse him the medical treatment he
needs. This is direct politically motivated torture.
For the purpose of calling attention to this torture and to help mobilize
a campaign to end this, THE LEONARD PELTIER SOLIDARITY FAST/
HUNGER STRIKE has been organized. At this time there are over 50
fasters taking part in this from across the U.S. and in Canada, France,
Basque Country, Russia, South Africa, Spain and Italy.
We are asking everyone who can to send daily messages to: Ms.
Kathleen Hawk, Director, Bureau Of Prisons, 320 First St. NW,
Washington, DC 20534, fax; 202-514-6878; phone; 202-307-3198;
e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] These messages should
ask that Leonard be allowed treatment at the Mayo Clinic.
For more information on how you can join the fast/hunger strike, or do
support work for it, please send a message to: the NWLPSN at;
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
The Year 2000 Bug - An Urgent Sustainability Issue
http://www.peg.apc.org/~psutton/grin-y2k.htm
