International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier – February 4, 2012
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!
In 1975, Leonard Peltier was wrongfully accused in connection with the shooting deaths of two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents.
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.
FBI agents forced a woman to sign the statements that said 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 one of the jurors is known to have made racist comments during the trial.
FBI documents prove that the U.S. government went so far as to manufacture the so-called murder weapon, the most critical piece of 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.
Leonard Peltier is 67 years old and in poor health. An accomplished author and artist, he is renowned for his humanitarian achievements. In 2009, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the sixth consecutive year.
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.
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.
Scheduled events will be announced here and on our master calendar:
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/calendar.htm
Sites To Date
Tacoma, Washington: International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier. NW Regional March and Rally for Clemency for Leonard Peltier. Saturday, February 4, 2012
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12:00 Noon. March for Justice. Portland Avenue Park (on Portland Avenue between E. 35th and E. Fairbanks; take Portland Avenue exit off I-5 and head east).
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1:00 p.m. Rally for Justice. U.S. Federal Court House, 1717 Pacific Avenue.
Speakers
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Co-MCs: Matilaja: Yuâ, Pik Eskimo from Mountain Village Alaska. Member of NW AIM since 1973, Friend of Leonard Peltier for 38 odd years and member of Tacoma Chapter LPDOC; Steve Hapy, long time Leonard Peltier and Native struggles activist, Tacoma Chapter LPDOC.
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Drum: Albert Combs and Coastal Hand Drum Singers.
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Welcoming: Deeahop Conway, Puyallup Tribal member, Tacoma Chapter LPDOC, Leonard's case and update; Arthur J. Miller: Northwest Regional Organizer LPDOC, Tacoma Chapter LPDOC, long time union member and human rights activist.
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Keynote Speaker: Ramona Bennett: Puyallup Tribal Elder, lifelong friend of Leonard Peltier, Grand Mother, Great Grand Mother; Chester Earl: Puyallup Tribal member; Zoltan Grossman: Evergreen State College faculty in Geography and Native Studies, in Olympia, former board member of Midwest Treaty Network in Wisconsin.
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Closing words: David Duenas: Puyallup Tribal Member
Car Pools
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OLYMPIA, WA: There will be a carpool leaving from the parking lot at Harrison and Division at 10:15 am.
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PORTLAND, OR: Meet up outside of KBOO Radio Station (20 SE 8th, Portland, OR 97124) before embarking to Tacoma between 9:00-9:30 am.
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SEATTLE, WA: Meet at the Red Apple parking lot at 23rd and Jackson by the bus stop. Will be leaving at 10:30 am
For Download
Two page flier for NW Regional March: http://zinelibrary.info/files/Peltier_March_2011.pdf
Portland flier for NW Regional March: http://zinelibrary.info/files/Portland_Peltier_Flier.pdf
11" x 17" poster for the march/rally: http://zinelibrary.info/files/Peltier_Poster_2011.pdf
Also Announced
CANADA
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier.
GERMANY
03 February. Berlin, Germany: Free screening of "Incident at Oglala" (German version) and warm up for the rally on 04 February. 19:00 p.m. at Mieterladen, Kreutziger Strasse 23, 10247 Berlin-Friedrichshain. Free Cafe, too.
4 February. Berlin, Germany. International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier. Rally for Justice. U.S. Embassy, Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin-Mitte (Brandburger Gate). 14:00 p.m. For information: jos.porath@googlemail.com.
UNITED STATES
San Jose, California: International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier. Standout for Leonard Peltier. Santana Row crosswalk at Stevens Creek Boulevard (between Westfield Valley Fair and Santana Row). 1:00-3:00 p.m. Come support Leonard Peltier and distribute case literature to auto passengers and pedestrians. Bring signs, posters, banners. Suggestions: "Leonard Peltier – 36 Years Justice Denied," "Bill of Rights is another Broken Treaty – Free Leonard Peltier," or "Leonard Peltier is Innocent." Sponsored by LPDOC Chapter – Silicon Valley. Contact: Donna Wallach at 408-293-4774 or 408-569-6608.
Albuquerque, New Mexico: International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier.
New York, New York. International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier! 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., at Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, Assembly Hall (120th and Claremont, Manhattan). Featuring:
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Frank Menusan, Opening Prayer and Native American Flute
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Red Storm Drum & Dance Troupe
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Performance by Coatlicue Theatre Company
Former Puerto Rican Prisoner of War Luis Rosa Pérez
Other Special Guests To Be Announced!
Delicious Homemade Food for only $5!
$5 to $10 Donation at the Door to Benefit the LPDOC. (Nobody turned away due to empty pockets!)
RAFFLE:
FRAMED MEDICINE MAN LITHOGRAPH BY LEONARD PELTIER,
MY LIFE IS MY SUNDANCE, T-SHIRT, CD
For more information: nyclpdoc@gmail.com • nycjericho@gmail.com • 718-325-4407. Co-Sponsored by the Riverside Church Prison Ministry and The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee NYC Chapter.
Rapid City, South Dakota: International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier. Details to follow.
