Via Warriornet: >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Saturday, August 07, 1999 12:27 PM >To: Workers World News Service >Subject: A letter from Leonard Peltier > > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Aug. 12, 1999 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >A LETTER FROM LEONARD PELTIER > >My Brothers and Sisters, > >It is hard for me to believe that the year 2000 is so >quickly approaching us. As I sit in this cell and think >about my grandchildren who are growing up so fast, my >friends who have passed on, and the many years of my life >that have been stolen from me, I remind myself of the >attention my own suffering has brought to the realities >of Indigenous Peoples everywhere. I know that my own >persecution has become a symbol of the persecution all of >our people face everyday. > >But I have not given up hope for freedom. Today I am >asking you to stand up and represent me and everything I >am so proud of: the dignity, spirituality, and pride of >the First Nations Peoples of the world. > >My dream is to continue what the Trail of Broken >Treaties started: an event that will have a historic and >lasting effect in the minds and consciousness of the >public. We are hoping to carry out such an event this >November in Washington, DC. November will be a critical >time for my freedom campaign. > >This December will be Clinton's last likely chance to >grant me Executive Clemency. My defense team will have >been steadily lobbying Congress to support clemency for >two months prior to the event. Therefore, November will >be an important time for a strong show of public support. > >The irony is that at the same time, "Native American >Heritage Month" and the Thanksgiving holiday will be >occurring and will be bringing additional attention on >Native Americans into the public, making November an >important month to bring real issues of Indigenous >Peoples of the U.S. into the limelight of the media. > >I believe that we can accomplish a successful campaign >to do this if we all pull our resources together. I can >visualize all the colors of our Native Nations' flags >flying high around a culturally brilliant and attention >attracting event in front of the White House this Fall. > >The thought of different Indigenous Nations coming >together in unity to support sovereignty, human rights, >dignity, cultural preservation, and my freedom, warms my >heart. Please read the proposal attached to find out more >about our plans and how you can help. Thank you. > >In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, >Leonard Peltier > >LEONARD PELTIER FREEDOM MONTH > >[Excerpts from the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee's >appeal]: > >We are writing to ask for your support, endorsement and >collaboration regarding our plans for a November 1999 >Leonard Peltier Freedom Month in Washington, D.C. As you >know, Peltier is a Native American leader who has been >unjustly incarcerated for 23 years in the United States. FBI >documents released years after his trial, together with >other sources, have proved that critical ballistic evidence >establishing his innocence was withheld from the defense, >and that witnesses were terrorized into giving false >testimonies against him. Though long overdue for parole, and >in deteriorating health, Peltier remains in prison. > >Amnesty International and numerous other human rights >organizations have recognized Leonard Peltier as a political >prisoner and demanded his immediate and unconditional >release. He is seen as a symbol of Indigenous Resistance and >his call for freedom is supported by numerous Indigenous >organizations worldwide. > >It is clear that the judicial system in the United States >has utterly failed Peltier. We recognize that we must now >demand justice from the other two branches of govern ment, >the executive and legislative branches. President Clinton >has the power to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier at any >time, and the United States Congress is charged with >overseeing the correct conduct of affairs by such agencies >as the United States Parole Board and the FBI. > >In order to obtain action and justice from these offices, >all sectors of society must make themselves heard. As we all >know, November is the month of Thanksgiving in the United >States. According to historical legend, the first >Thanksgiving was held by the pilgrims to give thanks to God >for their very survival in North America. They had been >saved from starvation by kindly Native Americans who taught >them about local crops and wildlife. > >The pilgrims, in turn, thanked the Lord and exterminated >the tribes. Leonard Peltier is but one more of the most >recent victims. > >November has also been declared Native American Heritage >month by President Clinton, and we plan to hold him to his >word. Traditionally, clemency petitions are granted by the >president at the end of each year. November will thus be a >critical month. Moreover, the parole board could reconsider >Leonard's parole situation in the early spring, making a >November action extremely timely. > >The event will begin on Nov. 1, 1999, with Native American >ceremonial runners at the historic Liberty Bell in >Philadelphia. From there, they will run all the way to the >White House in Washington, where they will be met by local >supporters and important religious leaders such as Bishop >Desmond Tutu of South Africa. We plan to erect ceremonial >teepees behind the White House for the month and conduct a >Native American ceremony in front of the White House every >morning. > >Meanwhile, 10 young Native Americans will carry out a >Freedom Fast for Peltier in front of the White House from >Nov. 1 through Thanksgiving day, underscoring the urgent >need to grant him justice at last. As people sit down to >their "Thanksgiving" feasts this year, we want them to think >about Leonard Peltier, alone in his prison cell, and about >the treatment of all Native Americans. > >For those who cannot travel to Washington, D.C., a >coordinated and massive telephone campaign to the White House >will be organized. > >Please give us your full support. Leonard Peltier is a >gifted Native American leader who still has much to give his >people. Over 23 years of his life have been taken away and >his health is beginning to fail. Please help him to obtain >justice and freedom so that he can continue to give his >gifts to us all. > >If you are able to contribute in any way to these >activities, contact the committee as soon as possible at: >Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS >66044, Tel. (785) 842-5774. > > - END - > >(Copy left Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
