And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >X-Mailer: Forte Agent 1.5/32.451 >Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 02:01:03 GMT >From: Craig Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [FN] Greenfield Rally >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Reprinted from Greenfield Recorder (without permission) > >Supporters still seek justice for jailed American Indian >Backers turn out for Leonard Peltier >By Ken Eysaman >Recorder Staff >GREENFIELD - Nearly 23 years after Leonard Peltier was sent to prison >in Leavenworth, Kan., Jonathan Marks still wants justice. > Carrying signs that read "Injustice Hurts Us All, Clemency for >Leonard", "Free Leonard Peltier, He is a scapegoat for the FBI" and >"Free Leonard Peltier, a Native American Political Prisoner for 23 >Years", about 30 people turned out Saturday for a morning rally in >front of the courthouse on Main Street. > An American Indian activist, Peltier was convicted in 1976 of >murdering two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South >Dakota. Since then he has maintained his innocence and human rights >groups and civil rights leaders have cited his case as a grave >injustice. > Part of an international effort to spur the Clinton >administration to grant Peltier a presidential pardon, the group of >local supporters planned Saturday's rally hoping for a holiday pardon. > Since his arrest in 1976, more than 20 million letters have >been written on Peltier's behalf. > Local supporters said they hope their action will build >awareness of the case and highlight the importance of justice for >Peltier and all Americans. > "What better way can I support my country, family and freedom >this holiday season than by supporting Leonard Peltier?" asked Mark, >of Wendell. > Holding a sign that read "Fast for Freedom for Leonard >Peltier", area activist Wally Nelson told the circle of protestors >that "we are at the right place and the right time to say Leonard >Peltier needs to be free." > As he was preparing his remarks for the demonstration, Nelson >said he began to "think in terms of how we can help each other". > Eight protesters had planned on being arrested Saturday for >"acts of civil disobedience" but a strapped Greenfield Police >Department told organizers of the protest that they were too busy to >handle the arrests. > "We met with the police chief and several officers who told us >they had occupied with more serious crimes," Mark said, "and with the >bombings in Iraq and the icy weather we decided that civil >disobedience might not be the appropriate thing to do". > But the protesters still marched down Main Street posting >their message of freedom for Peltier on storefronts, parking meters >and even the manger scene on the Town Common. > Greenfield Police Saturday reported no arrests related to the >protest. > Mark said that he feels strongly about Peltier's case even >after 23 years because "democracy is being threatened". > "This obvious injustice upsets me as an American", he said. > Amnesty International has called the Peltier case a glaring >example of FBI tampering with the judicial process in a political >trial. > In 1993, Peltier applied for Executive Clemency, hoping that >President Clinton would give his case a "fair and impartial review". > That process usually takes about six to nine months. Peltier, >however, has only received a form letter of response, indicating that >his application is still under review. > Besides Main Street in Greenfield, about 30 other rallies were >planned Saturday in cities across the country and world, including >Washington DC, Lawrence Kansas, San Francisco, Melbourne Australia, >Brussels Belgium and New York City. > The Kansas based Peltier Defense Committee has planned a >similar protest on Feb. 6, which marks the 23rd anniversary of his >arrest in Canada. > The Western Mass Peltier Support Group plans to stage a >protest at the Federal Building in Springfield, where several hope to >be arrested for acts of civil disobedience. <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER=-=-=>>>> If you think you are too small to make a difference; try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito.... African Proverb <<<<=-=http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ =-=>>>> IF it says: "PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW...." Please Check it before you send it at: http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/blhoax.htm
