Write or call to
demand a congressional investigation into the treatment of
Leonard Peltier since June and any role played by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the personnel at the U.S. Penitentiary at
Lewisburg.
U.S. Senate
Committee on the
Judiciary
Subcommittee on the
Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights
Hart Senate Office
Building, Room 807
Constitution Avenue
and Second Street, NE
Washington, DC
20510
Phone:
202-224-7703
Timeline
June 24
- On June 24, 2011, Mr.
Peltier received a 20-pound note in the mail. That it even
arrived in his cell is puzzling. Prisoners are not allowed to
have money. Any currency is supposed to be confiscated in the
mailroom and never reach the prisoner. Upon receiving the bill,
Mr. Peltier promptly mailed it back out to a friend.
June 27
- An officer in a June 27 incident report described finding the
currency and Mr. Peltier was charged with being in possession of
the money. This incident report triggered, early on June 27, a
search of Mr. Peltier's cell where "two wires protruding… from…
the wall" were found.
A guard allegedly was shocked by a wire(s)
in the cell, placed there a long
while ago by one of Leonard's former cellmates. The guard
claimed "assault" (apparently he didn't know better than to
touch an electrical wire). Leonard wasn't present during the
search, having already been removed to "The Hole".
Click on the below
images to read the official Incident Report of 27 June. Please note
that the prison failed to detect the money sent to Leonard by a
supporter. Rather than accept responsibility, prison
authorities blame Leonard for being in possession of the
20£ note. Also please note the placement of the wires in
the cell as described by the guard. Leonard does not sleep
on the top bunk and due to physical limitations could not
possibly be responsible for the exposed wires. While the guard indicates that Leonard
currently does not have a cellmate, Leonard
has had a cellmate in that particular cell from time to time.
Attention Supporters: For information on what you can and
cannot send to Leonard Peltier, click
here.
July 21
- A disciplinary
hearing was convened and a report issued on July 21. While the
hearing officer did not find that Mr. Peltier had any
involvement in placing the wires in the cell, he nonetheless
concluded "that Peltier was… aware of the presence of the
electrical wire [and] should have taken some sort of action to
ensure that the hazard was removed". This was despite the fact
that two guards corroborated that Mr. Peltier could not see the
wires and did not know they were dangerous. Even though the
guard who searched the cell "did not sustain an actual serious
physical injury," the hearing officer determined "the prohibited
act to be of the greatest severity in nature." Consequently, Mr.
Peltier was found guilty of assault on a guard and "conduct
which disrupts or interferes with the security or orderly
running of the prison". These offenses are in the most severe
category of offenses according to the Bureau of Prisons
(BOP)--offenses that include killing, escape, setting a fire,
possessing a gun, rioting, and taking hostages. The punishment
imposed on Mr. Peltier includes forfeiture of 100 days of
statutory good time, 60 days of disciplinary segregation,
disciplinary transfer, 180 days loss of commissary privileges,
and 180 days loss of visiting privileges. A 2-page appeal of the
determination was submitted by Mr. Peltier, but was recently
rejected as exceeding an alleged 1-page limit. The appeal,
alleging violation of Mr. Peltier's right to due process of law
and protection against cruel and unusual punishment guaranteed
by Amendments Five and Eight of the U.S. Constitution, has been
amended and resubmitted to the Regional Director, BOP.
August 1
- During an alleged
random search of Peltier's cell in the SMU, an officer found a
razor blade hidden between the pages of a Koran belonging to the
other occupant of the cell (who has
admitted that the razor blade belonged to him). Mr. Peltier
received another incident report. Mr. Peltier has been told
prison authorities know he was not at fault and that the charge
brought against him has been expunged. However, there is no
clear evidence that this has been done.
August 3
- Amnesty International
wrote to Warden Bledsoe at the United States Penitentiary in
Lewisburg to express concern that Peltier may have been unfairly
punished for an offence he did not commit, and that confinement
to a cell for a prolonged period with inadequate exercise and
other deprivations could be detrimental to his health,
particularly in view of the poor state of his physical health
and existing medical conditions.
August 19
- Local reporters who
had applied for and received approval to interview Mr. Peltier
were prevented from meeting with Mr. Peltier.
September
1 - During a weekly
legal visit, Attorney Dugan noted that she and Mr. Peltier
appeared to be under surveillance by a Counselor at Lewisburg.
Suddenly, the Counselor and two guards approached Mr. Peltier
and Ms. Dugan. They removed Mr. Peltier from the visiting room
and strip searched him (a search that included a cavity search)
on the pretext that Attorney Dugan had allegedly passed
something to Mr. Peltier. (She had only greeted Mr. Peltier as
she has always done; she shook his hand.) Consequently, a further incident
report and another disciplinary hearing are anticipated. Mr. Peltier was subjected to a similar search at the end of the
legal visit.
Other Ways You Can Help
Transfer
Leonard Peltier has
been moved to USP-Coleman in Florida—over 2,000 miles away from
home. Protest this
unfair punishment of Leonard Peltier. Leonard has less than 30 years on
his sentence, is 67 years of age and in failing health.
Tell the Federal Bureau of Prisons that the only acceptable
transfer is one to a medium security facility in close proximity
to his family and Nation—to the facility in Oxford, Wisconsin.
Please send e-mails, write
letters and call BOP every single day. Tell the BOP that the world is watching and we’re
horrified by its unjust and inhumane treatment of Leonard Peltier. Make reference
to Leonard Peltier #89637-132 and contact:
If calling from
outside the United States, dial first the International Area
Code + 1 (US country code).
Freedom Now!
The injustice
to which this man has been subjected for over 35 years must end!
Flood the White House with letters, e-mails, faxes, and
telephone calls. Tell Obama to free Peltier now!
President Barack H.
Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Phone Numbers - If calling from outside the United States, dial
first the International Area Code + 1 (US country code)
Comment Line: (202) 456-1111
Switchboard:
(202) 456-1414 (Ask to be connected with the Comment Line)
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
EE.UU.
Thank you for all you do on Mr. Peltier's
behalf.
Much of the
information contained on this site is from In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthiessen, the
definitive
work on the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the Peltier case.
The author
successfully defended against lawsuits brought by former Governor and
Congressman William Janklow from South Dakota (convicted of
manslaughter in 2003, jailed, and forced to resign his congressional seat in
disgrace) and FBI Special Agent David Price in three different states,
surviving an eight-year litigation. As acknowledged by the courts, Matthiessen's reputation for not being sensationalistic or scandalous
is well known. He is a highly respected author and his works have
received wide acclaim.
Copyright
2008-2012 Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee.
Site Last Updated on
Thursday, 19 January 2012 04:25 PM
