The following is from the 'Spirit of Crazy Horse', the official
newsletter of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. Published
bi-monthly, it is filled with important information about the
LPDC and Native American movement. Subscription rates are:
$10/year (6 issues); $20 for international subscriptions;
$5 for seniors; and no charge for prisoners.
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, P.O. Box 583, Lawrence,
KS 66044. Make check payable to: Crazy Horse Spirit, Inc.
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STATEMENT OF LEONARD PELTIER
Greetings Sisters, Brothers, Friends,
It is hard to put into words the feeling I got when I walked
into the visiting room on July 7th and saw the pain in my wife's
eyes. I knew even before a word had passed between us that it could
only mean one thing. My appeal had been denied. My mind clouded
with so many thoughts. How could they do this? How could they stand
and call themselves the champions of justice when they'd heard the
prosecutor go on and on about the lack of evidence against me and
the fact that they don;t know who killed the FBI agents? How could
they uphold a conviction that has been proven to have been based
solely on fabricated, coerced and perjured evidence? Where is
justice? Am I to serve twice my natural life in prison even though
I can prove my innocence? Is this my fate? Will I die here?
I admit, it was hard to hold back my tears. I am a strong man,
but I am not superhuman. My wife held my hand; I could barely force
myself to look at her. Softly I told her, "You are young and
beautiful. You shouldn't be wasting your life waiting for me. You
should go out and find someone you can be with that can give you a
family. I can't give you these things." She made a deal with me.
She told me that she still has ten good years on her biological
clock. If I'm still in prison at that time, she'll think about
moving on. It made me feel a little better, but not a whole lot.
I feared that many of my supporters would at last throw in the
towel and that I would be doomed to this hell forever. But this is
not the case. I witnessed a marvelous and wonderful thing. My
supporters were angry and wanted to fight. Letter writing increased,
new support groups sprang up, old groups reformed and regionalized.
My attorneys held closed meetings to strategize future moves, and
so many people wrote to cheer me up that once again I found faith.
My long journey does not end behind prison bars.
On November 21st there will be a demonstration in Washington,
D.C. I ask anyone who cares about justice, the Constitution, racial
equality under the law, and our future generations to be there.
This day will be important and historic. It will be a day in which
all races of humankind will join in unity to demand that our civil
rights be protected and that mine be restored. I have suffered a
long time. I want to go home. Please, join us on November 21st to
prove to the world that we will not tolerate injustices to any
citizen in this country. It is vital that we have the numbers. We
will literally need thousands of people there that day.
And when I am a free man, the real work will begin. Prison has
not prevented me from trying to help my people. I organize
clothing, food and toy drives year round, support women's shelters
and Head Start programs. I have established a scholarship for
Native law students at NYU and also helped to fund a newspaper by
and for Indian children. I am a foster parent to two young boys in
Guatemala and El Salvador. Dr. Stuart Selkin and I have been
working on ways to improve the health care system on the Rosebud
Reservation, and recently I have become involved with Harvard
Professor Jeffrey Timmons on economic reform for Pine Ridge. Still
I am limited in what I can do.
My dream is to rejoin the people and build community centers
offering after school activities and counseling. I want to work
with specialists from around the world to help deal with FAS and
FAE, and to prevent alcoholism. I want to help create jobs and job
training. It is so frustrating to hear over and over again about
teen suicide, drug abuse, unemployment and poverty. I think, what
is my sacrifice for.
My own children have grown up without me. I missed everything
from training wheels to high school graduations. Today I have two
of my grandchildren. Will I get to see them in the school play?
Will I ever go to parent-teacher conferences? They had been growing
up in a place not sympathetic to their needs. Like so many poor
children in the world, they've seen terrible things and suffered
hard. Now, through my wife and Committee volunteers Michele and
Koen, they have a chance to achieve. I only wish I could be there
to help them.
I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak
to you today. I have prayed hard for unity amongst all people. I am
sure that is the only way toward progress and peace and a secure
future for ALL of our grandchildren. Today is a fine example of a
step in that direction. Thank you.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Gwarth-ee-las Peltier
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*^*^*^* MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR LEONARD PELTIER *^*^*^*
On November 21, 1993 there will be a march and demonstration
for jailed Indian leader Leonard Peltier, a man who has spent over
seventeen years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit.
Evidence was fabricated, witnesses coerced, and evidence of his
innocence withheld. The prosecuting attorney has admitted three
time in a court of law "we don't know who killed those agents."
Yet, there seems to be little hope for justice in the judicial
system. On July 7th, 1993, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals,
once again, rejected Leonard's claims, not because they were
invalid, but because they had not been filed in a timely fashion.
Now we must join together to request from our elected officials
that a political remedy be initiated. Leonard is too good a man to
languish in prison. He needs to rejoin his children and
grandchildren, and work hands-on for his (and all) people.
Please write to your local Congresspeople. Ask them to look
into the case and voice their support. Suggest that they contact
Senators Daniel Inouye, Paul Wellstone, or Congressmen Ronald
Dellums or Don Edwards.
Send a check or money order today to the LPDC LEGAL STRATEGY
to ensure that our expenses for such an enormous operation can be
paid, AND BE THERE ON THE 21ST!
We urge you to try to attend this important event. Without you
physically being there for Leonard, there's a chance we will not be
taken seriously. We will literally need thousands of supporters to
join us that day. By keeping in touch with us we will be able to
give you updates and information to help make this less of a burden
to you. Local Support Groups will be organizing caravans and bus
rentals and arrangements will be made for food and shelter.
Leonard Peltier has given up one third of his life. The least
we can do is sacrifice one weekend for him.
____________________________________________________________________
Yes, I will contribute to the effort! Here is my donation of $______
I am committed to being there:
name_________________________
address______________________
telephone____________________
PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED AND UPDATED
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Michele Lord + If you have come here to help me,
+ you are wasting your time.....
+ But if you have come because
+ your liberation is bound up with mine,
milo@scicom.alphacdc.com + then let us work together.
Aboriginal Woman
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