Leonard Peltier demands his freedom

Leonard Peltier demands his freedom

http://www.workers.org/2009/us/leonard_peltier_0709/

By Judy Greenspan
San Francisco
Published Jul 2, 2009

A press conference and vigil were held at the downtown federal
building June 26 to support Leonard Peltier and his upcoming parole
effort on July 28. Supporters are being asked to write letters on
behalf of Peltier, a leader of the American Indian Movement and one
of the longest-held political prisoners in the U.S.

The press conference marked the 34th anniversary of the attack by FBI
agents and other police on Oglala-Lakota Native American activists on
Pine Ridge Reservation. On June 26, 1975, two FBI agents were shot
and killed during a shoot-out and Peltier was charged with their
murders. Despite the absence of eyewitnesses and any evidence proving
Peltier's involvement in the shootings, this Native American leader
was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.

The press conference was attended by Peltier's daughter, Kathy
Peltier, who urged everyone to continue to support her father's
parole bid for freedom. Tony Gonzales and Sampson Wolfe, two local
Native American leaders of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, also spoke.

A short statement by Peltier was read at the press conference, which
stated in part: "I am not a philosopher or poet or a singer or any of
those things that particularly inspire people, but the one thing that
I am is the evidence that this country lied when they said there was
justice for all. I am the evidence that the attitude, the powers that
be still hold us in a grip.

"They hold us in an emotional grip. They hold us in a poverty grip.
They hold us in a cultural deprivation grip. And we as a people are
the evidence that this country fails to keep its treaties, this
country fails to keep its word. This country has failed to follow its
own Constitution - the treaty between the people and the government.
We are that evidence." Peltier's full statement can be read at
http://freepeltiernow.blogspot.com/2009.

During his more than 33 years of incarceration, Peltier has continued
to speak out in support of Native peoples' rights. He has won
international acclaim and support for his tireless activism on behalf
of human rights for Indigenous peoples. Peltier is an internationally
acclaimed writer and artist. In 2004, Leonard Peltier ran for U.S.
president on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket.

Letters supporting Peltier's parole effort should be addressed to the
U.S. Parole Commission, 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420, Chevy
Chase, MD 20815-7286. Your letter must reference Peltier's prison
number, 20815-7286.

Free Leonard Peltier!

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