FREE Leonard Peltier - How you can help

**Chaosqueen (Admin)** · Admin Posts: 775 Join date: 2009-08-26 Age: 37

Who is Peltier?
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Quote:

Leonard Peltier, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians was born 12th September 1944 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Leonard Peltier is a Great-Grandfather, an artist, a writer and a member of AIM - American Indian Movement, an Indigenous rights movement seeking cultural pride and sovereinty. Leonard Peltier is a political prisoner and has been for 33 years.

There is a long history here (several centuries of history) and many details to consider. For more information go to:
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/theman.htm
http://www.freepeltiernow.org/welcome.htm

During the 1970's the F.B.I and the Guardians of the Oglala Nation (GOON squad) [an F.B.I supported group], aggressively conducted a counterinsurgency war against A.I.M on Pine Ridge Reservation during a period which is known as the 'Reign of Terror'. During that period of time more than 60 local native people were killed and some 350 recieved injuries, almost all these people were A.I.M supporters. Not one of these murders has ever been investigated due to the F.B.I involvement in those deaths.
During a shootout on June 26 1975, two F.B.I, Special Agents Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams were killed.These are the deaths for which Leonard Peltier has been accused and imprisoned for 33 years despite no credible evidence linking him to those deaths. Leonard has always admitted to being involved in the shootout but has always maintained his innocence of the murders. Leonard was acting in self-defence and in the defence of his family, women and children.
After the June 26 shootout Leonard fled to Canada, the F.B.I fabricated evidence to extradite him from Canada and to convict him of the charges. Leonard Peltier was one of three men brought to trial for the deaths of the agents but as a result of Leonard fleeing to Canada, he was tried separately from Dino Butler and Bob Robideau, both of whom were acquitted of all charges as there was no evidence to suggest they provoked or were aggressors in an assault and that they were acting in self-defence. Leonard went before the courts alone and was denied a fair trial, he was denied the right to argue self-defence and was found guilty and sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences.
Leonard has now served 33 years for a crime the U.S government admits they can't prove he committed. After more than 30 years the F.B.I. continues to withhold from Leonard's legal team 100,000 pages of documents related to the case.
Leonard was denied parole in 1994 and appeared before the parole commission again on 28th July 2009. After several long weeks of waiting for a decision, Leonard was yet again denied his freedom despite being eligible for parole. He is now not eligible for another parole hearing until 2024 when he will be 79 years old! This is why this push for clemency is now absoulutely crucial to see him finally walk as a free man.
Leonard Peltier is a writer, an artist and a humanitarian and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize six times. He is supported by Amnesty International, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and many other high profile people and other human rights and civil rights groups. Leonard has hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide.

A 1988 Documentary 'Incident At Oglala', produced and narrated by Robert Redford gives account of the events of June 26 1975 on Pine Ridge Reservation and is available on DVD and a link to watch or download via Google is provided here:
http://www.freepeltiernow.org/welcome.htm

Apologies for any inaccuracies that may be here or any missing information, there is so much to try and fit into a small space and it obviously can't all be included. If anyone has anything to add please feel free to contact us or contribute to the discussion board or add relevant links or pictures.

Blogspot Friends of Leonard Peltier - Clemency online petition:
http://freepeltiernow.blogspot.com/2009/08/clemency-petition-online-sign-now.html

Clemency for Leonard Peltier - petitiononline:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Clemency/petition.html

Executive Clemency for Leonard Peltier - ipetitions:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Peltier_Clemency2008/

Equal Justice for Leonard Peltier - PETITION TO SIGN AND CIRCULATE!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/note.php?note_id=149059681779&id=1596407593&ref=nf

Thanks to LEONARD PELTIER SUPPORT GROUP - AUSTRALIAN BRANCH for the info.

It's time for a change - free him now!