'Will you be a warrior for Leonard Peltier?'
WW Party
Conference: Excerpts from a talk by Matowin
Leonard Peltier is an American Indian Movement warrior who
was framed up by the federal government on charges that he shot
two FBI agents at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in
1975.
There is uncontested proof that the government covered up
and fabricated evidence in order to convict him. Yet Leonard
has consistently been denied a new trial and the Supreme Court
has refused to consider his case.
Millions of people around the world know of Leonard
Peltier's case and support the call for his freedom. Some of
these people are famous, such as South African Archbishop
Desmond Tutu. But most of them are people like you and me.
Leonard Peltier, an innocent man, is the foremost Native
American political prisoner in a country that does not admit it
has political prisoners.
Over the years in prison, Leonard's health has deteriorated.
He is in constant pain. He has severe problems with his jaw,
making it impossible for him even to chew food. But the prison
authorities refuse to allow him to get the necessary medical
treatment.
Leonard has consistently been denied parole and even a
proper parole hearing. As a result, his lawyers have this past
year filed a habeas corpus petition and are trying to force the
government to at least give him a public parole hearing.
Normally, petitions for presidential clemency are reviewed
within about six months. Leonard has had a clemency petition
before Clinton and Janet Reno for six years now. Rooms at the
Justice Department are overflowing with petitions and letters
supporting Leonard.
But no action has been taken.
Leonard is now asking everyone to demand that President
Clinton grant clemency before he leaves office in January. To
that end, this month has been declared Leonard Peltier Freedom
Month.
We are also pleased to announce that the National Day of
Mourning in Plymouth, Mass., this year will be dedicated to
Leonard Peltier.
Every year since 1970, on so-called "thanksgiving" day,
Native Americans and our supporters have gathered on the hill
above Plymouth Rock for the National Day of Mourning.
Leonard Peltier now embodies five centuries of Indigenous
resistance in the Americas--from the Inca to the Innu, from the
Tainos and Arawaks and Caribs who fought with fists and spears
and rocks against the European invaders who slaughtered and
enslaved them to Geronimo, Crazy Horse, Anna Mae Aquash and
other warriors of the American Indian Movement.
The state--the armed henchmen that protect the interests of
the ruling class--has focused its efforts on untold millions of
people from all four directions, of all races, who have dared
to stand up against racism and slavery and capitalism.
Not too long ago, Leonard Peltier sent a message to Mumia
Abu-Jamal and his supporters encouraging everyone to keep up
the good fight. Leonard wrote about how he sometimes feels down
and hopeless after being imprisoned for so many years.
But then he remembers all of the people who love him and
support him. He remembers that he is a warrior for his people,
and that to accept defeat is not a warrior's way.
Will you be a warrior for Leonard? Will you be a warrior for
Mumia? Will you join with us in the broader revolutionary
struggle that will tear down the iron houses and smash this
government once and for all?
(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to
copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
ww@workers.org. For subscription info info send message
to: info@workers.org. Web: http://www.workers.org)
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page