Solidarity with Leonard Peltier EDITORIAL Published Feb 11, 2011 11:22 PM U.S. imperialism has carried out tortures in occupied Guantanamo and in prisons of Afghanistan and Iraq. It has arranged the “special rendition” of some prisoners, outsourcing them to professional torturers like Washington’s Egyptian collaborator, Omar Suleiman, who is now that country’s new vice president. This horrific treatment of political prisoners abroad is but an extension of the treatment meted out to the U.S. ruling class’s political prisoners on the home front. The cruelty of the institutions of “justice” is especially unforgiving when the prisoner is from one of the oppressed nations living within U.S. borders and the alleged crime is against the state apparatus.
Thus Leonard Peltier, a leader of the heroic Wounded Knee uprising of Native peoples in the mid-1970s, has been held in federal prisons in the U.S. for more than 35 years. He was framed up and has been punished for allegedly participating in a shootout with FBI agents at Oglala in North Dakota, who were themselves conducting illegal counterintelligence activities aimed at destroying the American Indian Movement. Not one witness identified Peltier as the shooter of the two FBI agents killed. A Native man, Joseph Stuntz, was also killed by a bullet to the head. No one was ever charged in his death. During these 35 years in prison Peltier has been denied adequate medical attention and suffered abuse so that his health is seriously damaged. The Leonard Peltier Defense-Offense Committee has requested that all progressive forces write to demand that he receive proper medical care in a Feb. 6 call to action. For additional information and to print material offered, see www.whoisleonardpeltier.info. The defense committee’s appeal follows: Medical alert: A call to action At this time, Mr. Peltier’s most pressing need is proper medical care. His only hope of being seen by qualified physicians and receiving care that complies with standard medical protocols is to be immediately transferred to another facility. For background information on this current crisis, read our November 2010 press release. You can help. Please print the following letter. Sign the letter; write your name and mailing address; and mail or fax your letter today. Mail to: Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 1st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20534, or fax to: (202) 514-6620 Sample Text Often a handwritten heartfelt letter is quite effective. Remember to always employ a respectful tone and keep your comments brief and to the point. If you wish, you may adapt the following text. Harley G. Lappin Director, U.S. Bureau of Prisons 320 First Street, NW, Washington, DC 20534 Dear Mr. Lappin: It has come to my attention that Leonard Peltier #89637-132, an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, is in dire need of medical attention. I believe that Mr. Peltier’s medical needs are urgent. He needs to be seen by proper medical staff. Therefore, I respectfully request that Leonard Peltier be transferred to FCI-Oxford in Wisconsin or FMC-Rochester in Minnesota. Either of these facilities can adequately accommodate Mr. Peltier’s medical needs. Thank you in advance for transferring Leonard Peltier and immediately addressing his medical needs! Sincerely, Signature Articles copyright 1995-2011 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011 Email: [email protected] Subscribe [email protected] Support independent news DONATE -- http://www.workers.org/2011/editorials/leonard_peltier_0217/ Via InstaFetch -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sixties-L" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en.
