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Fri Mar 19 2010

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Freedom for Leonard Peltier
by Leonard Peltier and Michael Eckhardt
in Journal issue July-August 2005
July 20, 2005

June 26, 2005 will mark the 30th year since the shoot-out at Oglala on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. It was in this conflict between the American Indian Movement and the F.B.I. that three people lost their lives. The subsequent arrest, conviction and incarceration of American Indian activist, Leonard Peltier, is a nightmarish visible sign of social injustice.

The case of Leonard Peltier is a case of political failure, political manipulation, political intervention and political incarceration. Leonard remains a political prisoner in a country that claims it holds none. Leonard Peltier has nearly completed his 3rd decade in a cage in Leavenworth, Kansas. Below, please find Leonard's words as he approaches a fourth decade of this nightmare.

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Friends, Supporters, and All People,

I want to thank you all for your continuing support. These are important times for us all. Now is the time for unification. Only through unity can we overcome. I ask all of us, my brother and sisters, all people, please come together as one and work together hard for the rights of all. On this Wednesday, one of the most important hearings in my case will be presented in Fargo, North Dakota. It challenges the court's jurisdiction to have illegally sentenced me. I was never charged with a crime over which the United States had jurisdiction. The charges and conviction violate our sovereignty. This hearing can lead to my freedom. But, I will leave it to my lawyers to present these issues to the court and any of you who have questions may of course call upon them. Barry Bachrach and Michael Kuzma have worked hard for my freedom, as have so many of you, too many to list. I remember you all and hope to join you soon. I especially want to thank Michael Kuzma for his hard work in relentlessly pursuing the government to produce to us the over 140,000 documents which have yet to be produced, after nearly 30 years of obfuscation. I hope you will all support this hearing and the cause. I hope to be free so I can even more effectively assist and give back to all of my people for the outpouring of support that you have given me through these so many years. Let's pray that this time I am given the justice due our people.

I also want to acknowledge another significant event which will occur on June 26,2005, the 30th anniversary of the firefight on the jumping bull property. We did not start that war. We stood as brave warriors simply trying to protect the elders and the traditionals who did not wish to lose their identity to the forces conducting a war upon them. All of those who participated that day were warriors. I, along with all of you, mourn the death of Joe Stuntz who valiantly sought to protect our people. We mourn the many people who died during the Reign of Terror. We mourn that the fight continues. The forces attacking us have not stopped. However, this anniversary should not only be a day only of mourning, but a day to reinvigorate our people's efforts to achieve the rights and justice to which we are all due. Today, many of our people are being unjustly placed in prison. The government has turned the prisons into one of the largest reservations in this Country. Our people are not treated with the respect we are due. These injustices must stop. We must unite and speak as one to stop the injustices facing our people. Remember, unity. Unity conquers all. My prayers are with you all on these important days. I pray to be with you soon to help.

In the Spirit,
Leonard Peltier

Please do not forget about or give up on freedom for Leonard Peltier. Please contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and find out ways you can help.

LPDC, Inc.
P.O. Box 583
Lawrence, Kansas
66044-0583 USA
Phone: 785-842-5774
Fax: 785-842-5796
info@leonardpeltier.org

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