LPDC Update - Oct 10, 2002
1. Appeals hearing held in St. Paul
2. Oct 12 Events - Indigenous Peoples Day
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Leonard's case had a brief but compelling day in court on Tuesday, in St.
Paul, MN, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The hearing
was held in response to the appeal filed by Leonard's attorneys after the
motion to reduce sentence was dismissed by a lower court. Attorneys Eric
Seitz and Bruce Ellison represented Leonard. Long-time Peltier foe, US
Attorney Lynn Crooks, came out of retirement to argue against Leonard. Each
side had only 15 minutes to present their arguments (see courtroom sketches
at http://www.freepeltier.org) . The Motion to Reduce Sentence seeks to
change Leonard's sentence from two consecutive to two concurrent sentences.
This change is justified as the original sentencing judge was denied the
true facts of the case, since the FBI and the US Attorneys suppressed
critical ballistics evidence that exculpated Leonard. While the narrow
scope of this motion will likely, at best, result in Leonard still having a
life sentence, despite his innocence, it will impact the calculations that
the US Parole Commission performs when determining whether to grant parole,
and will make it harder for them to continue to deny parole. Thus, it is a
critical, careful step we must take in order to expose the government's
denial of justice.
It is significant that the Court even chose to hear the appeal, as this is
not in any way guaranteed. The public presence in the Courtroom was
powerful and overwhelmingly composed of Indigenous people, which the
three-judge panel surely noticed. Outside the Warren Burger Federal
Building, over 200 people rallied in support of Leonard. The media came
out, with print, radio and TV crews present. (For a sample of the coverage,
see the Minneapolis Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3353448.html ) The crowd was
spirited, there were many banners and signs, and the singing and drumming
that formed the core of the rally echoed loudly before the courthouse.
We now wait for weeks or even months for the Court to announce its decision
on the appeal. The court could return the motion to the lower court with
instructions to act on it, or might even correct Leonard's sentence
directly. We will advise you on how best we all can support the outcome
that Leonard deserves.
OCT 12 - INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
This Saturday, October 12th, dozens of demonstrations will be held all over
the US in solidarity with actions in Mexico and Central America to protest
the 510th anniversary of Columbus Day. Thousands of Indigenous activists and
supporters, from Canada to Panama, will demand basic human rights for all
native peoples and an end to free trade agreements that exploit native
communities and their lands. They will also call for an end to the
militarization that accompanies corporate globalization. Demonstrators will
block roads and borders, and hold marches, cultural celebrations, rallies,
and other direct actions.
The continuing struggle to free Leonard Peltier will be central to many if
not all of these demonstrations. Check out the detailed list on our website
at http://www.freepeltier.org/iipd_events.htm - the list includes events at
the Nevada Test Site/Western Shoshone Nation, in Denver, CO, Washington, DC,
Chicago, Ithaca, NY, NYC, Portland and Eugene, OR, Burlington, VT,
Minneapolis, MN, Winchester, KY
Columbus, OH, Tempe, AZ, Boston, MA, Pleasant Hill, CA, San Francisco, CA,
Berkeley, CA, Puerto Rico, British Columbia, at various locations along the
US/Mexico Border, and in Central America, Southern Mexico, Brazil and
Argentina
While this array of actions and events is too long to list in an email, we
encourage you to get involved - go to our website and locate an event near
you. Bring people who might not otherwise attend. Whether or not there is
an event near you, consider downloading our informational flyer and make
copies of it to distribute on Oct 12th.
We at the LPDC postponed the traditional annual Sept. 12th
visibility/fundraising day held on Leonard's birthday to recognize the
anniversary of 9-11. We now need to mobilize, starting on Oct 12th and
working through the US Thanksgiving holiday, as a great opportunity to talk
about Leonard's case, while so many people are focused on the lies and myths
of Indigenous people and their relationship with the dominant culture. We
will be launching our annual fund drive on October 12th, and hope that you
can participate. Look for the next email for more details.
Leonard will most likely spend Sat., Oct 12th in the inipi, or sweat lodge,
the right for which Native American inmates had to fight. Saturdays are
devoted to the sweat ceremony at Leavenworth, although prison officials
sometimes deny them access to the practice. Leonard has asked us to relay
to all who are working for his freedom, and especially for those who will be
out taking action on the 12th, that he will be praying for you in the sweat
ceremony in the prison yard at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
Until Freedom Is Won!
The New Leonard Peltier Justice Campaign
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774
http://www.freepeltier.org
My Prince is lost in the forest and too stubborn to ask for directions.
1. Appeals hearing held in St. Paul
2. Oct 12 Events - Indigenous Peoples Day
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Leonard's case had a brief but compelling day in court on Tuesday, in St.
Paul, MN, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The hearing
was held in response to the appeal filed by Leonard's attorneys after the
motion to reduce sentence was dismissed by a lower court. Attorneys Eric
Seitz and Bruce Ellison represented Leonard. Long-time Peltier foe, US
Attorney Lynn Crooks, came out of retirement to argue against Leonard. Each
side had only 15 minutes to present their arguments (see courtroom sketches
at http://www.freepeltier.org) . The Motion to Reduce Sentence seeks to
change Leonard's sentence from two consecutive to two concurrent sentences.
This change is justified as the original sentencing judge was denied the
true facts of the case, since the FBI and the US Attorneys suppressed
critical ballistics evidence that exculpated Leonard. While the narrow
scope of this motion will likely, at best, result in Leonard still having a
life sentence, despite his innocence, it will impact the calculations that
the US Parole Commission performs when determining whether to grant parole,
and will make it harder for them to continue to deny parole. Thus, it is a
critical, careful step we must take in order to expose the government's
denial of justice.
It is significant that the Court even chose to hear the appeal, as this is
not in any way guaranteed. The public presence in the Courtroom was
powerful and overwhelmingly composed of Indigenous people, which the
three-judge panel surely noticed. Outside the Warren Burger Federal
Building, over 200 people rallied in support of Leonard. The media came
out, with print, radio and TV crews present. (For a sample of the coverage,
see the Minneapolis Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3353448.html ) The crowd was
spirited, there were many banners and signs, and the singing and drumming
that formed the core of the rally echoed loudly before the courthouse.
We now wait for weeks or even months for the Court to announce its decision
on the appeal. The court could return the motion to the lower court with
instructions to act on it, or might even correct Leonard's sentence
directly. We will advise you on how best we all can support the outcome
that Leonard deserves.
OCT 12 - INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
This Saturday, October 12th, dozens of demonstrations will be held all over
the US in solidarity with actions in Mexico and Central America to protest
the 510th anniversary of Columbus Day. Thousands of Indigenous activists and
supporters, from Canada to Panama, will demand basic human rights for all
native peoples and an end to free trade agreements that exploit native
communities and their lands. They will also call for an end to the
militarization that accompanies corporate globalization. Demonstrators will
block roads and borders, and hold marches, cultural celebrations, rallies,
and other direct actions.
The continuing struggle to free Leonard Peltier will be central to many if
not all of these demonstrations. Check out the detailed list on our website
at http://www.freepeltier.org/iipd_events.htm - the list includes events at
the Nevada Test Site/Western Shoshone Nation, in Denver, CO, Washington, DC,
Chicago, Ithaca, NY, NYC, Portland and Eugene, OR, Burlington, VT,
Minneapolis, MN, Winchester, KY
Columbus, OH, Tempe, AZ, Boston, MA, Pleasant Hill, CA, San Francisco, CA,
Berkeley, CA, Puerto Rico, British Columbia, at various locations along the
US/Mexico Border, and in Central America, Southern Mexico, Brazil and
Argentina
While this array of actions and events is too long to list in an email, we
encourage you to get involved - go to our website and locate an event near
you. Bring people who might not otherwise attend. Whether or not there is
an event near you, consider downloading our informational flyer and make
copies of it to distribute on Oct 12th.
We at the LPDC postponed the traditional annual Sept. 12th
visibility/fundraising day held on Leonard's birthday to recognize the
anniversary of 9-11. We now need to mobilize, starting on Oct 12th and
working through the US Thanksgiving holiday, as a great opportunity to talk
about Leonard's case, while so many people are focused on the lies and myths
of Indigenous people and their relationship with the dominant culture. We
will be launching our annual fund drive on October 12th, and hope that you
can participate. Look for the next email for more details.
Leonard will most likely spend Sat., Oct 12th in the inipi, or sweat lodge,
the right for which Native American inmates had to fight. Saturdays are
devoted to the sweat ceremony at Leavenworth, although prison officials
sometimes deny them access to the practice. Leonard has asked us to relay
to all who are working for his freedom, and especially for those who will be
out taking action on the 12th, that he will be praying for you in the sweat
ceremony in the prison yard at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
Until Freedom Is Won!
The New Leonard Peltier Justice Campaign
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774
http://www.freepeltier.org
My Prince is lost in the forest and too stubborn to ask for directions.
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Visit and show your support for the Grass Roots Oyate http://members.tripod.com/GrassRootsOyate Clemency for Leonard Peltier. Sign the Petition. http://petitiononline.com/Release/petition.html
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