Leonard Peltier, an almost forgotten name, but one that is remembered by many as the symbol of injustices suffered by the Native Peoples of America.
Below is a commentary by Chippy Dee and photos by Bud Korotzer from a cultural evening held in his honour……
At weeks end scores of people gathered at the Judson Memorial Church in N.Y.C. for a concert and discussion about Leonard Peltier, a man who has spent the past 33 years in prison despite the fact that very many people believe him to be innocent. Peltier will have a parole hearing on July 28th.
The evening began with an opening prayer in the Lakota language from Tiokasin Ghosthorse and with music he played on his flute. There were musical performances from David Lippman, Grupo Raices, David Amran, who played his flute, and Rolando Victorio Mousaa who read a letter that Pete Seeger wrote to the Parole Board on Peltier’s behalf, and then sang a song that Pete asked him to sing. Lady Penumbra and Ty Conscious recited poetry that Peltier wrote. There was an audio played of an interview with Eric Seitz, a parole attorney, and several videos were viewed: Leonard Crowdog on Peltier, No Boundaries by Peter Matthiesen, and Wounded Knee by Dennis Banks. Attorney Lynne Stewart spoke very favorably of the kind of person Peltier is. She said that Mumia and Leonard are held in prison to scare the rest of us out of fighting injustice. Peltier’s current attorney, Mike Kuzma, said that efforts to get files on the case from the FBI using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) were being stonewalled either by the FBI or the courts. There are 143,000 pages of FBI documents on the case that remain undisclosed.
The events that led to Peltier’s conviction began in the early 1970s when tensions broke out on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota between the then tribal chairman Dick Wilson, who was pro-assimilation, and the traditionalists. Wilson was accused of giving economic benefits to the assimilationists and leaving the others in poverty. The growing conflict prompted the traditionalists to band together with the American Indian Movement (AIM), a civil rights group committed to uniting all Native Peoples.
In 1973 local traditionalists and AIM occupied the Pine Ridge hamlet of Wounded Knee to protest the abuses they were suffering. The government responded by firing 250,000 rounds of ammunition into the area and killing 2 occupants. The occupation lasted 71 days and only ended after the government agreed to look into their complaints. This never happened and conditions on the reservation worsened. Wilson outlawed AIM and hired vigilantes who called themselves Guardians of the Oglala Nation (GOONs) to enforce his rules.
Between 1973 & 1976 anyone associated with AIM was targeted for violence – over 60 traditionalists were murdered. Instead of stopping the violence the FBI supplied the GOONs with weaponry and intelligence on AIM.
As the situation worsened the traditionalists asked AIM to return to the reservation. Leonard Peltier was one that answered the call. He and 12 others set up a camp on the Jumping Bull ranch at Pine Ridge.
On June 26, 1975 two FBI agents in unmarked cars pursued a red pick-up truck onto the ranch supposedly looking for someone who had gotten into a fight and stolen a pair of boots. Gunshots rang out. 150 FBI swat team members responded along with Bureau of Indian Affairs police and GOONs. When it was over 1 AIM member and 2 FBI agents lay dead.
Four people were indicted for the deaths of the FBI agents. The charges against one were dropped and 2 were found innocent on the grounds of self-defense. Peltier escaped to Canada where he was apprehended in February, 1976. The FBI presented a Canadian court with an affidavit from a woman named Myrtle Poor Bear who claimed she was Peltier’s girl friend and that she had witnessed him shooting the agents. But Poor Bear had never met Peltier, nor had she been present at the time of the shooting – a fact later confirmed by the US Prosecutor and by her subsequent declaration that she had given false testimony.
There is much evidence that Leonard Peltier did not get a fair trial and the prosecutor failed to produce a single witness that could identify him as the shooter. Still he was sentenced to 60 years in prison – two life sentences.
Jim Messerschmidt, who wrote “The Trial of Leonard Peltier”, said, “…the conviction of Peltier for the murder of two FBI agents was based on coerced testimony and the suppression and fabrication of evidence, and inconsistencies and contradictions in the government’s case. Since Peltier’s incarceration over thirty years ago people worldwide have demanded justice in this case as it has deservedly gained international attention. People around the world must now insist that a favorable parole decision be rendered on July 28th….”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has joined the call for Peltier’s parole characterizing his continued incarceration as, ” … a sad commentary on the U.S. government and the humanitarian values Americans profess.”
* The history of this case was capsulated from information printed by the Leonard Peltier Defense and Offense Committee (LPDOC) www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
Photos © by Bud Korotzer
Click on the following two images to enlarge
they are all worth reading.
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CrazyComposer said,
July 26, 2009 at 15:52
If Leonard Peltier is paroled it will be a tremendous miscarriage of justice for the simple reason that he should be given an unconditional pardon based on the fact that he was convicted based on prosecutorial misconduct – something that the court of appeals has recognized but failed to act upon. Exoneration is the only acceptable outcome to this gross miscarriage of justice – parole would mean that Peltier would spend the next 27 years on probation – if he jaywalks he could be sent back to prison for the remainder of his sentence. Is that justice? Why should anyone have to live with that kind of burden in what is, ostensibly, a ‘free society’?
This case perfectly exemplifies how ‘habeas corpus’, as a fundamental legal principal and right, has been degraded over the years in the United States. Having false testimony used against you to place you at the scene of the crime, a witness that claimed to be his ‘girlfriend’, is the epitome of being ‘set up’ for something that you have not actually done; the FBI were obviously desperate to convict someone for the deaths of their two agents (did anyone look into ‘friendly fire’?) that they had to do anything, especially when there were no truly viable suspects available.
Peltier, were he from a wealthy white family and had the million dollar lawyers that can be purchased with that wealth would likely have never seen a day of prison; his lawyers would have been able to argue the many obvious issues that we see so easily today. Unfortunately things were not so easy to do when Peltier went to trial.
He must be freed, but totally; not tied to the justice system as a man on parole but rather as a man who was unjustly convicted and who has now been cleared of all charges.
Free Leonard Peltier, but let him be Free indeed.
tquigly said,
July 26, 2009 at 21:00
“Peltier’s current attorney, Mike Kuzma, said that efforts to get files on the case from the FBI using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) were being stonewalled either by the FBI or the courts. There are 143,000 pages of FBI documents on the case that remain undisclosed.”
“Stonewalled”? 30+ years after the trial? Along with all the other atrocities in this matter, this is absolutely outrageous!!
But no, the name “Leonard Peltier” is NOT an “almost forgotten name.” Will be thinking of him all day on Tuesday while looking at the photo of his self portrait ‘Warrior Elder’ on my office wall.
RDC said,
July 27, 2009 at 03:04
Why haven’t any high-profile attorneys given to social inequities gotten behind this effort, and brought wrongful prosecution charges against the trial evidence used in convicting??
I don’t doubt for a moment the government railroaded Peltier, and created a needed scapegoat when Federales were killed.
If the evidence is lacking, the re-trial should be a no-brainer.
Somebody is involved in a cover-up here.
This is only one more sterling example of how anything the US Government does which involves Native People becomes a travesty of justice.
That Peltier isn’t NP means he didn’t have tribal community: thus, a more vulnerable scapegoat.
Not only full pardon, but full compensation for his life years needlessly lost.
Paulette said,
July 27, 2009 at 05:10
Thank you for the wonderful blog of the Peltier support group’ event. As an internationalists myself the links between Native Rights & the Palestinan struggle speaks to links supporters of both struggles must forge to bring about freedom & Justice for our comrades.
REMEMBERING LEONARD PELTIER said,
July 27, 2009 at 21:06
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Patsy Luebke said,
August 3, 2009 at 02:22
Just can’t believe that Obama isnt going to help free Leonard Peltier.where is change Obama.everyone knows Leonard is innocent.when i get on here my mine goes crazy.guess i would get in trouble saying the words i want to say.be waiting for aug 18th.
R.F Winters said,
August 4, 2009 at 01:20
The injustices that Leonard has suffered at the hands of the U.S government, go beyond what we as a people can fathom, the idea that our government was build on deceit,theft,and corruption, is a tough think to swollow but it’s the truth, all our government does is lie , cheat ,steal, murder, things we teach or childern not to do,things we pray they never do, but asking the same from our corrupt government is impossiable . the cover-ups go beyond Leonard, he is simply a fall guy . This man needs to be FREEED to see the things we all take for granted,Family, Friends,just to be free ,if any of us are truly free . Nothing will ever truly change until the U.S government is held in check , made to awnser for all they hide from the American people. At least your soul is free Leonard, they can’t have that.
Patsy Luebke said,
August 5, 2009 at 05:41
He will go free home where he belongs.PatsyLuebke,
Free Leonard Peltier … ! « Homeless on the High Desert said,
August 18, 2009 at 19:59
[...] 18, 2009 in First Nation From Desert Peace: The events that led to Peltier’s conviction began in the early 1970s when tensions broke out on the Pine Ridge Indian [...]
Leonard Peltier remains imprisoned … « Homeless on the High Desert said,
August 29, 2009 at 20:29
[...] Peltier has been an international symbol of American injustice based upon critical questions surrounding his conviction in 1977 in the deaths of two FBI agents. Amnesty International has designated Peltier as a [...]
Free Leonard Peltier said,
September 2, 2009 at 12:15
Please repost your version of http://freeleonardpeltier.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/september_vigil_for_lp/
As a result of Peltier’s recent parole denial, Ben Carnes, Choctaw Nation, and a Sun Dance Chief, states he will go to Washington, D.C. to stand and fast in front of the White House between September 5th – 12th, in hopes of securing a meeting with President Obama
Thanks
Patsy Luebke said,
September 16, 2009 at 14:59
FBI didnt get the right man that killed Martin luther King jr,all a sit up from goverment and John F Kennedy,Leonard Peltier is a innocent man,
chinarose said,
February 9, 2010 at 04:53
He in one of many political prisoners in the US. Their stories have been hushed up. Their stories should be told to all — what a wake up call to those who carry on about “democracy.” If it ever existed at all, it is now LONG GONE. Welcome to the machine.
patsyluebke said,
February 10, 2010 at 16:39
Time to send this man home to his people,shame of the Goverment.Obama right the wrong like you promise.send Peltier home today.you need to right the wrong…we are waiting on Obama,