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International
Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier
04 February 2012
The Leonard Peltier
Defense Offense Committee recently called on supporters worldwide to
protest against the injustice suffered by Indigenous activist
Leonard Peltier. Supporters gathered on February 4, 2012, at every federal
court house and U.S. embassy or consulate worldwide to demand
the freedom of a man wrongfully convicted and illegally imprisoned
for 36 years!
Solidarity
Message -
04 February 2012
Greetings to
the Peoples of Mother Earth who know injustice when they see it,
stand against oppression where they find it, and defend the
human rights of all Peoples!
An innocent
man, American Indian Leonard Peltier was wrongfully convicted in
1977 by the United States government. He has served 36 years in
prison despite proof of his innocence.
In the early
1970s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) supported the
corrupt Sioux Tribal Chairman Dick Wilson (on the Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation in South Dakota) by providing arms and
information to Wilson’s vigilantes. Anyone who opposed Wilson or
who sought to advance Indigenous rights was targeted for abuse
or worse. During a three-year period, reservation residents were
terrorized. Hundreds of people were seriously injured and over
60 people were murdered.
The American
Indian Movement (AIM) is committed to uniting all Native Peoples
in an effort to uplift their communities and promote cultural
pride and sovereignty. In 1975, frightened Pine Ridge residents
called upon AIM for protection. Leonard Peltier was one of the
AIM members who answered the call.
On June 26,
1975, FBI agents drove onto private property (where AIM members
were known to be camped), allegedly in pursuit of a man accused
of stealing a pair of boots. For unknown reasons, a shoot out
began. When the skirmish ended, the two FBI agents were dead. A
young Native American named Joe Stuntz also lay dead, shot
through the head by a sniper bullet.
In a case
developed by the FBI, Leonard Peltier was targeted for
prosecution along with two other men. Fearing he would not
receive a fair trial, Peltier went to Canada where he was
arrested on February 6, 1976. Using false affidavits developed
by the FBI, the U.S. government convinced the Canadian courts to
extradite Peltier to the U.S.
At trial,
Leonard Peltier was not permitted to adequately defend himself.
His actions being no different than those of his
co-defendants—who were tried separately and found not guilty by
reason of self-defense—Leonard Peltier was nevertheless
convicted and sentenced to two life terms. The U.S. government
had succeeded in preventing critical evidence from being heard
by the jury, presenting false evidence, and otherwise
manipulating the trial to cause the conviction.
The U.S.
courts have acknowledged that Mr. Peltier was convicted on the
basis of fabricated and suppressed evidence, as well as coerced
testimony, but refuse to grant Leonard a new trial. Leonard
Peltier has been repeatedly denied parole, as well, despite his
being a model prisoner and having met the criteria for release.
Peltier is 67 years of age and in poor health. And still he
waits for justice.
Today, we gather to
tell President Obama—on constitutional and overriding human
rights and compassionate grounds—to Free Peltier Now! Act now,
Mr. Obama, to right this wrong. Free Leonard Peltier. It's
time.
Thank you,
friends and supporters, for gathering in solidarity with Leonard
Peltier. As you have done today, raise your voices tomorrow and
every day. Do this until freedom is won!
International Headquarters of the
Leonard
Peltier Defense Offense Committee
Fargo, North
Dakota, USA
Site Reports and Upcoming Events
BELGIUM
Brussels,
Belgium
CANADA
Toronto,
Ontario, Canada: 19th
Annual Traditional Prayer Vigil, Forum and Feast for Leonard Peltier
on February 6,
2012 - 1:00-6:00 p.m., Ontario Institute for Studies in
Education, University of Toronto
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/user/Videographer1234567#p/u/9/ICYZbMII0hI
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/user/Videographer1234567#p/u/8/rpFTMJ1n1Cc
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/user/Videographer1234567#p/u/7/2yZHLC-WGHU
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/user/Videographer1234567#p/u/6/ChEaUXrw3iE
Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/user/Videographer1234567?blend=1&ob=0#p/u/6/h02tniyXllU
ENGLAND
Birmingham,
England
Lincoln, England
FRANCE
Rally in solidarity
with Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier and against the death
penalty, on February 8, 2012, from 18h to 20h before the U.S.
Consulate, Place de la Concorde (corner of the Tuileries gardens
and Rue de Rivoli), Paris, France.
GERMANY
Berlin, Germany
Frankfurt,
Germany
Hamburg, Germany
IRELAND
Dublin, Ireland:
International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier. U.S.
Embassy, 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, at 2:00 p.m. Speaker:
Indigenous activist Jean Day.
UNITED
STATES
Los
Angeles, California - The Cornfield
Los
Angeles, California - Federal Building
International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier: Clemency
Now!
San
Francisco, California
San Jose,
California: Join the 06 February standout in support
of Leonard Peltier at the corner of Market Street and San Carlos
Street (south end of Chavez Plaza).
Come support
Leonard Peltier and distribute case literature to auto
passengers and pedestrians. Bring signs, posters, banners.
Suggestions: "Leonard Peltier - 36 Years Justice Denied," "Bill
of Rights is another Broken Treaty - Free Leonard Peltier," or
"Leonard Peltier is Innocent." Sponsored by LPDOC Chapter -
Silicon Valley. Do you plan to join us or have questions?
Contact Donna Wallach at 408-293-4774 or 408-569-6608, or by
e-mail at dbwall@earthlink.net.
Boulder,
Colorado
Decatur, Georgia:
International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier side event
on 07 February. LPDOC Chapter-Atlanta is hosting an
awareness and solidarity action @ the PushPushTheatre, 121 New
Street in Decatur GA @ 7:30 pm. View the Suzie Baer film
"WARRIOR: The Life of LEONARD PELTIER". Donations accepted-Not
required. More info: 404-525-4360.
Gainesville,
Florida
Macon, Georgia
Reno, Nevada
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Gallup, New
Mexico
Buffalo,
New York
New York,
New York
Rapid City,
South Dakota
Protesters rally for Peltier’s release
Tacoma, Washington
http://www.puyalluptribalnews.net/news/view/leonard-peltier-supporters-rally-in-tacoma/#.Tz7u60rY78w.email
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