SPIRIT OF CRAZY HORSE NEWSPAPER - JAN/FEB. 1995
(This statement has been reprinted from the Jan/Feb., 1995 issue
of the Crazy Horse Spirit newspaper, the official voice of the
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee in Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.A.)
Greetings My Friends and Supporters,
Firstly, I want to express to my dear friend and spiritual
advisor Louis Irwin how much he has meant to me over the years. I
think you know how much love I have in my heart for you. Your
passing into the Spirit World will not diminish this. You have
always been one of my closest friends. You have encouraged and
protected my LPDC volunteers, always giving of yourself in ways so
deep and important that you have touched their lives as no one
else could! Daphne, you are in our prayers. Please stay close to
us and let us know whatever it is we can do to help you. Remember
that we are and always shall be your friends.
When Louie was diagnosed with cancer I told him that if he
should pass on, I'd kick his butt on the other side. My Brother
fought hard against the disease, living longer than any doctor
expected. This is because my Brother was a fighter, a warrior with
a heart as strong as a bear's. He inspired me every day, helped me
to survive in this nightmare place just by being my friend and
advisor. I have been blessed by simply being given the chance to
know him. Louis, I'm still going to kick your butt for leaving me
before freedom is mine, but I am also going to embrace you because
I love and miss you terribly.
To my supporters, I would like to wish each of you a
productive, healthy, and happy new year. 1995 promises to be a
year in which much healing of ourselves and Mother Earth may be
done. With what I have seen in 1994 I know that we have the will,
the fortitude, and the strength to win our long battles.
On December 15th the European Parliament passed a Resolution
in support of my release. New members of the House and Senate have
voiced their concern regarding my incarceration. Many members of
the United States Commission on Civil Rights have seen Incident at
Oglala and may decide to adopt my case. People have fasted, walked
cross country, rode on horseback, sundanced, prayed, written
letters, sent faxes, and run up phone bills all in an effort to
help me. I cannot express the love I have in my heart for all of
you, especially those who have sacrificed so hard!
As we make our way toward triumph, the F.B.I. continues to
distribute false and malicious disinformation. They have visited
newspapers, elected officials, and private citizens with their
garbage. This demonstrates to me that my supporters are doing an
incredible job. Why else whould the F.B.I. be so nervous about
their illegal and horrific exploits being exposed? They seem
willing to stoop to any level to smear my Clemency Campaign, but
the results are always the same; people are sick of being lied to
and new Support Groups are springing up all over the place! I am
also hearing that certain individuals are suddenly appointing
themselves to be my "representatives." A list of my Speakers
appears on page three. If you are concerned about an individual
speaking on my behalf, please report it immediately to the LPDC.
We can minimize the effort to sabotage our efforts in this way.
My legal team is currently in the process of strategizing
several alternatives in securing my freedom. This includes a new
request for Freedom of Information materials that have been
previously withheld from us. Recently Attorney General Janet Reno
rescinded the old guidelines for disclosures and because of her
decision, much more information is available to the public. We are
excited by this opportunity.
Unfortunately, it takes an enormous amount of funding to be
able to pursue legal actions successfully. That is why I ask you
now to fill out the enclosed donation form and mail it back to the
LPDC to help us continue in pursuing these lawsuits. Whatever you
decide to donate will be used specifically for attorney fees,
filing costs, and necessary expenditures relating solely to the
legal expenses arising from our current actions. Please dig deep
and help us to raise enough money to ensure a victory.
Please take into consideration that I will be not be able to
pursue these new options without your monetary assistance. It
would surely be a tragedy if these opportunities were to pass us
by because of financial constraints.
I also ask that those of you who are able, consider
purchasing a special lithograph that I created specifically to
help the family of our dear friend Louie Irwin with his enormous
medical costs. By purchasing a copy of Ghost Dance Leader you can
help this man's family to pay for the medical expenses that have
drained them financially. The lithograph costs only $75.00. You
can see what it looks like on the merchandise/lithograph page of
this publication.
Every day we are able to reach more people with the facts of
my case, the continued oppression of my People, political and
social injustices, and the stealing of our lands and religious
freedoms. Every day more people join us in this fight against
injustice. A lot of smoke has been blown across America in the
hopes of keeping its citizens blind, but eventually smoke clears
and truth becomes known. Thank you, my dear friends, for being
among those whho have helped clear away that smoke.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Leonard Peltier
TO SUBSRIBE TO THE CRAZY HORSE SPIRIT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION,
WRITE TO THE LPDC (INTERNATIONAL OFFICE), P.O. BOX 583, LAWRENCE,
KANSAS U.S.A.. 66044 OR PHONE AT (913) 842-5774.
THE LPDC CANADA CAN BE REACHED AT (416) 439-1893 (tel/fax); OR
WRITE TO 43 CHANDLER DR., SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO CANADA M1G.
SEND E-MAIL TO: lpdccfd@web.apc.org.