Culture | June 27, 2009 | 5 comments

LEONARD PELTIER PAROLE HEARING SET JULY 28, 2009

source: http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb260/angelD999/prayer-1.jpg

Image
electricbrave
Leonard Peltier's first full parole hearing was held in 1993, at which time his case was continued for a 15-year reconsideration. Mr. Peltier has recently applied for and been granted a parole hearing. The hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2009. All supporters are encouraged to step up their efforts in support of parole for Leonard Peltier.

Below is our suggested letter for you to send. It is critical that everyone write - no matter where you are in the world. Please invite others you know to write letters as well.

Thank you. Your voice has never been more important for Leonard than now. He needs you - your heart, your writing...

Pray or whatever your practice with the Creator is - for Leonard and freedom....the time has come, for our action, and his freedom.

The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States Parole Commission
5550 Friendship Blvd., Ste. 420
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7286

(Insert Date)

Re: LEONARD PELTIER #89637-132

Dear Commissioners,

I am writing in behalf of support for Parole for Leonard Peltier. While I am aware of the seriousness of the conviction, I am also aware that people have the ability to go forward out of the past and give to the larger society. I believe that is the case with Leonard Peltier.

I ask you to consider the humanitarian work he has done during his 33 years of incarceration. More than most people can ever do who are not locked up.

I ask you to consider his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize for the 6th straight year. There are those who make light of this, but who else among us have had that honor.

He consistently donates his art work for charities such as battered women's shelters, halfway houses, alcohol and drug treatment programs, and Native American scholarship funds.

Mr. Peltier has won several awards including the North Star Frederick Douglas Award; Federation of Labor (Ontario, Canada) Humanist of the Year Award; Human Rights Commission of Spain International Human Rights Prize; and 2004 Silver Arrow Award for Lifetime Achievement.

He has expressed sadness for the tragedy that occurred that day at Oglala and pain for the families of the two agents and the Indian man that died that day.

Thirty-three years is a long time. I ask you to look with empathy upon a 64 year-old man who, over the 33 years, has done so much good while in prison, and I think has the ability to do even more good for the community if he were to be allowed parole.

While I know of the misconduct by government officials in his case, I will not bring details up because I am certain that you are aware of the misconduct, and will consider that as you have the discretion to rule above or below the guidelines. I would hope that you will exercise that discretion in favor of Leonard Peltier. It seems to me it would be a gross miscarriage of justice if he were left to die in prison.

Please grant parole.

Respectfully,

Your Name
  1. groups:
    Culture
  2. tags:
    Culture,  Current TV,  Viral,  Native American,  9 more
  3.     
    |

5 comments // LEONARD PELTIER PAROLE HEARING SET JULY 28, 2009

  • zima
    • 0
      zima  

    • Apparently the Parole Commission has in the past insisted that Leonard must first admit guilt before they will release him on parole. Considering that Leonard knows he did not kill the two agents that fateful day, wouldn't it be considered a form of perjury if he were to lie to the Parole Commission and say ,"OK, yeah, I'm guilty..." in order to obtain his freedom? What I know of Leonard Peltier from years of researching about him, is that he is a man of honor and will not say that he is guilty as charged when he knows it is not true.. A convicted person should not have to say something that isn't true in order to be released on parole. That's just not right and it's not the way our justice system should operate. I expect right decisions and right action from the Parole Commission this time around.

    • 2 years ago
  • electricbrave
  • electricbrave
  • electricbrave
    • 0
      electricbrave  

    • John Trudell is a Santee-Lakotah from Nebraska. His song Out of the Bluesis movie music from Robert Redfords documentary about the case of Leonard Peltier Incident at Olglala. Trudell who was a prominent spokesperson and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) payed for his commitment an unimaginable high price. During an Aim demonstration in 1979 in Washington D.C. his 3 children, wife and mother died in a horrible way during a mysterious fire at night. Negotiations were crushed harshly by the FBI. He retreated from the world and started with writing down words to prevent he would lose his mind. The poems which the Blue Indian (or also called sad Indian) and friend of Jackson Browne later combined with music belongs nowadays to the most intrusive and significant Indian voices.

    • 2 years ago
  • projectpeace
    • 0
      projectpeace  

    • Keeping Leonard Peltier in prison is as shameful a miscarriage of justice as any, ever. His incarceration neither serves society nor strengthens the rule of law -- quite the opposite, in fact.

      Absolute uncertainty of the final and subsequent judgments against him, extends far beyond mere doubt. Leonard is a man imprisoned not by his guilt, but by the crude vengeance of a dysfunctional court.

      Set this man free. And shame on us all for allowing it to take this long. We are a young and uncivilized species. The pervasive misery of this injustice must be ended.

    • 2 years ago
more from Culture:
from the community

top videos