URGENT ALERT! Leonard Peltier’s Safety Is In Jeopardy!
January 21, 2009 by Russell Means Freedom
Filed under News
20 January 2009
URGENT ALERT! Leonard Peltier’s Safety Is In Jeopardy!
Dear LP Supporters,
I am so OUTRAGED! My brother Leonard was severely beaten upon his arrival at the Canaan Federal Penitentiary. When he went into population after his transfer, some inmates assaulted him. The severity of his injuries is that he suffered numerous blows to his head and body, receiving a large bump on his head, possibly a concussion, and numerous bruises. Also, one of his fingers is swollen and discolored and he has pain in his chest and ribcage. There was blood everywhere from his injuries.
We feel that prison authorities at the prompting of the FBI orchestrated this attack and thus, we are greatly concerned about his safety. It may be that the attackers, whom Leonard did not even know, were offered reduced sentences for carrying out this heinous assault. Since Leonard is up for parole soon, this could be a conspiracy to discredit a model prisoner.
He was placed in solitary confinement and only given one meal, this is generally done when you won’t name your attackers; incidentally being only given one meal seriously jeopardizes his health because of his diabetes. Prison officials refuse to release any info to the family, but they need to hear from his supporters to protect his safety, as does President Obama. His attorneys are trying to get calls into him now.
This attack on LP comes on the heels of the FBI’s recent letter, prompting this attack by FBI supporters as an attempt to discredit LP as a model prisoner. Anyone who has been in the prison system knows well that if you refuse to name your attackers or file charges against them, then you lose your status as a victim and/or given points against your possible parole and labeled as a perpetrator.
It is not uncommon, in fact is quite common for the government to use Indian against Indian and they still operate under the old adage “it takes an Indian to catch an Indian”. In 1978, they made an attempt to assassinate him through another Indian man who was also at Marion prison with LP. But Standing Deer chose to reveal the plot to him instead of taking his life in exchange FOR A CHANCE AT FREEDOM. When Standing Deer was released in 2001, he joined the former Leonard Peltier Defense Committee as a board member. He also began to speak on Leonard’s behalf until his murder six years ago today. Prior to his murder, Standing Deer confided with close friends and associates that the same man who visited him in Marion to assassinate Peltier, had came to Houston, TX and told him that he had better stay away from Peltier and anything to do with him.
We are aware that currently, the FBI is actively seeking support for his continued imprisonment of Leonard Peltier and also also seeking support from Native People. So please be aware, and keep Leonard in your prayers. The FBI is apparently afraid of the impact we are having. If they will set him up to blemish his record just before a parole hearing, what will they do when it looks like his freedom will become a reality? We need to make sure that nothing happens to him again!
Please write the President, send it priority or registered mail. Email to Change.gov or email President Obama. Call your congressional representatives and write letters, not email, to them. Do what you can to get the word out to insure that LP is receiving adequate medical attention for his injuries.
I am asking you, supporters of Leonard and advocates of justice at this time to help. I don’t know what else to do. Please Help!
Thank you.
Betty Ann Peltier-Solano
Executive Coordinator
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
Also call and request Leonard be treated with dignity and respect.
Canaan Federal Prison: 570-488-8000.
Urgent!!!!
Write to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on behalf of Leonard Peltier regarding his transfer of Monday, January 12th 2009!!!!!
January 9, 2009
Leonard is being uprooted and relocated to a different prison on Monday, January 12th, 2009. Turtle Mountain is requesting that Leonard be transferred to the reservation’s custody, and as alternatives there are federal facilities in Sandstone, Minnesota and Oxford, Wisconsin which could accommodate him.
Please send the following correspondence or similar as soon as possible to:
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Designation and Sentence Computation Center (DSCC)
Grand Prairie Office Complex
U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Complex
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
E-mail to: GRA-DSC/PolicyCorrespondence&AdminRemedies@bop.gov
Or Fax to: 972-352-4395
Re: Leonard Peltier ##89637-132
Dear DSCC Officials:
I am contacting you seeking consideration for Mr. Leonard Peltier who will be transferred from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania on Monday, January 12th, 2009. Mr. Peltier has been a model prisoner and deserves to be transferred to a lower security prison based on his prison history and the BOP’s publicized standards of transfer requirements.
The Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation has passed a tribal resolution asking to take custody and care for Mr. Peltier, including oversight of his integration plan and post placement. Please consider this option for Mr. Peltier’s transfer first and foremost.
Mr. Peltier should be transferred to a facility close to his home based on the hardship policy of the Bureau of Prisons, because not only has he grown older while in prison, but his family has grown older, is on a fixed income which limits the time they can visit him. Mr. Peltier has served over 32 years in prison, more than half of his life, and deserves to be close to his family during this crucial time in his and their lives. He has several bad health conditions that warrant attention and as most well know is reaching the life expectancy of prisoners.
For these reasons I ask that you transfer Mr. Peltier to the Turtle Mountain Reservation’s custody as soon as possible. The alternatives that would help satisfy this request are either the federal facility in Sandstone Minnesota or Oxford Wisconsin as both are near in proximity to his family.
In the name of all things good and humane, I ask you to do the right thing for compassion’s sake in the transfer of Leonard Peltier today. Thank you and may the Creator bless you.
Sincerely,
<Your Name>
<Your Address>
<Your City, Your State, Your Zip Code>
—————————————————————————————————–
Please write to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on behalf of Leonard Peltier regarding his transfer of Monday, January 12th, 2009!!!!!
January 9, 2009
Dear Friends & Family:
We are aware that the Bureau of Prisons has a standard reply to the e-mails sent to the DSCC. Please do not stop writing the DSCC because by filling up their in-box, we are making them notice our requests. To assure that the proper officials are getting the message about Leonard’s transfer please cc e-mails directly to Lewisburg USP at the e-mail or address below. Thank you.
Warden
USP Lewisburg
US Penitentiary
2400 Robert F. Miller Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Phone: 570-523-1251
Fax: 570-522-7745
E-mail: LEW/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV
Also contact:
D. Scott Dodrill, Regional Director
Northeast Regional Office
US Custom House
2nd & Chesnut Street
Philadephia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-521-7301
E-mail: NERO/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV
Russell Speaks at Peltier Rally
November 29, 2008 by Russell Means Freedom
Filed under News
Dozens rally for Peltier
Sign the petition “Obama Free Leonard Peltier!”
Dave Olson, The Forum
Published Saturday, November 29, 2008
Watch the video
Russell Means talks Friday at a rally for Leonard Peltier. Photos by Dave Wallis / The Forum
Well-known American Indian activist Russell Means also spoke at the rally, stating Peltier was wrongly convicted at his trial, which was held in Fargo.
“This is not a nation of laws. This is a nation of outlaws,” Means said, referring to government officials he blames for Peltier’s imprisonment.
Means urged the public to pressure federal officials to free Peltier early next year when, according to Means, Peltier should be eligible for release. Means said he recently spoke to Peltier by phone.
“You can tell how lonesome he is. He didn’t want to get off the phone. It teared me up,” said Means.
The 64-year-old Peltier is serving two life sentences for the deaths of FBI agents Ronald Williams and Jack Coler, who were shot in the head after being wounded in the 1975 shootout at Pine Ridge.
Peltier supporters say he was denied a fair trial, in part because critical evidence was not allowed to be heard by the jury.
When there was talk President Bill Clinton might pardon Peltier, former South Dakota Gov. Bill Janklow advised against it, calling Peltier a cold-blooded murderer.
The U.S. Attorney for North Dakota, Drew Wrigley, who fought against one of Peltier’s failed appeals, has said Peltier should be in prison for the rest of his natural life.
Among those attending Friday’s rally was Wade Hannon of Moorhead.
“I’m here because our government has falsely imprisoned Mr. Peltier for 33 years now,” said Hannon.
“I’m sick and tired of politicians who talk out of both sides of their mouth and act like they care about natives, but when the rubber hits the road, they could not care less,” he added.
Peltier-Solano said one purpose of Friday’s rally was to highlight efforts to revive organized support for her brother’s cause through an organization renamed the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee.
Quoting her brother’s letter, Peltier-Solano told the crowd that the case showed the power of the government to subvert justice for its own purposes.
“If it wasn’t me, it could be any one of you,” she said, quoting her brother.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555 M Supporters of man convicted in the deaths of two FBI agents hope to keep attention on case.
By Dave Olson
