04 February:  International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier

The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee calls on supporters worldwide to protest against the injustice suffered by Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier. Gather 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!

Leonard Peltier is a Native American activist wrongfully accused in 1975 in connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Government documents show that, without any evidence at all, the FBI decided from the beginning of its investigation to 'lock Peltier into the case'.

U.S. prosecutors knowingly presented false statements to a Canadian court to extradite Mr. Peltier to the U.S. The statements were signed by a woman who was forced by FBI agents to say she was an eyewitness. The government has long since admitted that the woman was not present during the shootings.

Meanwhile, in a separate trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mr. Peltier's co-defendants were acquitted by reason of self defense. Had Leonard been tried with his co-defendants, he also would have been acquitted.

Unhappy with the outcome of the Cedar Rapids trial, prosecutors set the stage for Mr. Peltier's conviction. His trial was moved to an area known for its anti-Indian sentiment—Fargo, North Dakota. The trial judge had a reputation for ruling against Indians, and a juror is known to have made racist comments during Mr. Peltier's trial.

FBI documents prove that the U.S. government went so far as to manufacture the so-called murder weapon, the most critical evidence in the prosecution's case. A ballistics test proved, however, that the gun and shell casings entered into evidence didn't match. The FBI hid this fact from the jury. Mr. Peltier was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. According to court records, the United States Attorney who prosecuted the case has twice admitted that no one even knows who fired the fatal shots.  Although the courts have acknowledged evidence of government misconduct—including forcing witnesses to lie and hiding ballistics evidence reflecting his innocence—Mr. Peltier has been denied a new trial on a legal technicality.

An accomplished author and artist, Mr. Peltier is renowned for his humanitarian achievements. A six-time Nobel Prize nominee, Leonard Peltier is 67 years old and in poor health. 

Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, 55 Members of Congress and others—including a judge who sat as a member of the court in two of Mr. Peltier’s appeals—have all called for his immediate release.

The Courts may not be able to act but Barack Obama, as President, can. Please join with us to free an innocent man. On February 4, 2012, tell Obama to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier.

Host an event or plan to attend a scheduled event near you.  View our online calendar.

Updates

Call to Action

In late 2011, the National Congress of American Indians, representative of 500+ Indigenous Nations, passed an historic resolution on Leonard's behalf.  If you are a U.S. supporter, please print a copy of the Resolution (PDF) and send it to your Members of Congress.  Urge them to advocate with President Obama for Leonard's release.  Other supporters around the world may send a copy to President Obama or a nearby U.S. embassy or consulate.  Also encourage the Assembly of First Nations in Canada as well as other Indigenous assemblies/organizations worldwide to pass similar resolutions to help secure freedom for Leonard Peltier.  You may view current and past expressions of support for Leonard Peltier here.

Honors

Leonard Peltier has been widely recognized for his humanitarian works, winning honors including but not limited to:

• 1986 Human Rights Commission of Spain International Human Rights Prize;

• 1993 North Star Frederick Douglas Award;

• 2003 Federation of Labour (Ontario, Canada) Humanist of the Year Award;

• 2004 Silver Arrow Award for Lifetime Achievement;

• 2009 First Red Nation Humanitarian Award;

• 2010 Kwame Ture Lifetime Achievement Award; and

• 2010 Fighters for Justice Award.

Most recently, Leonard was awarded the first International Human Rights Prize by the Mario Benedetti Foundation in Uruguay.  Last week, after a long journey, the award arrived at our international headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota.

Mario Benedetti Foundation

First International Human Rights Prize

2011

Wind Chases the Sun

The upcoming documentary film, “Wind Chases the Sun,” now has a powerful crew of consultants, filmmakers and musicians on board including Tom Morello, Peter Coyote, Ray Zimmerman and Q’orianka Kilcher—all of whom are devoted to seeing the truth exposed and justice prevail for Leonard Peltier.  Producer/Director Preston Randolph also recently joined forces with Joslyn Barnes and Danny Glover of Louverture Films, and artist Shepard Fairey (best known for his Obama 2008 campaign poster) has lent his talents in creating a poster for the film.

For 2 years, Randolph and his lead researcher Dan Battaglia have traveled the country accessing document archives and conducting interviews.  The film will not only bring a detailed analysis of the Peltier case to the screen, they say, but show the relevance of this injustice to all Americans and the freedoms they hold so dear.  Randolph's intent is to explore the events that occurred on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota during the turbulent 1970s.  He will expose the role of the FBI in fomenting violence that culminated with the tragic 1975 shootout and in orchestrating Peltier's wrongful conviction.  Randolph's focus also is on Leonard Peltier's 36 years of imprisonment, his harassment by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the FBI’s continuing influence on his treatment and ongoing legal proceedings.  Randolph hopes to bring new light to the case in a unique and creative style and generate the public outcry necessary to gain Mr. Peltier's release.  Learn more at www.windchasesthesun.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/windchasesthesun.  Contact Preston Randolph at cactusproductionsfilms@gmail.com.

Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights

One good man or one good woman can change the world, can push back the evil, and their work can be a beacon for millions, for billions.  Are you that man or woman?  If so, may the Great Spirit bless you.  If not, why not?  We must each of us be that person. That will transform the world overnight.  That would be a miracle, yes, but a miracle within our power, our healing power.

~ Leonard Peltier

The Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights departed Alcatraz Island on December 18, 2011, and is due to arrive in Washington, DC, on or around May 18, 2012. This event is sponsored and coordinated by Wind Chases the Sun, Inc., N5679 Skylark Drive, DePere, WI  54115.  For more information, contact Dorothy Ninham at 920-713-8114 or Gina Buenrostro at 920-713-2205.  Donate time, energy, resources, and funds to the Walk.  Visit www.windchasesthesun.org or www.leonardpeltierwalkforhumanrights.com.