Dear RN list,
A couple faithful subscribers/contributors wrote really great letters on
behalf of Peltier and sent me copies. I thought they might inspire you so am
sending them along.
One of the letter-writers, David Lewit, of the Alliance for Democracy
(Boston area), writes that he is focussed now on participating in the
teach-in and demonstrations scheduled to coincide with the WTO summit in
Nov.-Dec. in Seattle.
David suggested posting info on this important event and lo and behold,
Andreas Rockstein (in Germany!) obliged us by sending along a list of
pertinent URLs (next message).
all the best, Jan
***************************************************************
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 08:02:25 -0700 (PDT)
To: "LPDC" <•••@••.•••>
From: David Lewit <•••@••.•••>
Subject: copy of letter to help Leonard Peltier
David Lewit 271 Dartmouth Street #2H Boston MA 02116
617-266-8687 ph and fax <•••@••.•••>
July 18, 1999
Ms. Kathleen Hawk
Director, Bureau of Prisons
320 First St. NW
Washington, DC 20534
Fax: (202) 514-6878
Dear Ms. Hawk:
I am a well-connected, politically active citizen who has know about Leonard
Peltier, Native American prisoner at Leavenworth, #89637-132, for many
years. I'm sure you're familiar with the matter. Now I am reading about
his medical condition.
I am trying to figure out why you are denying this man a set of current
x-rays so that a specialist physician can examine him at Leavenworth, at no
expense to you or your department, and recommend treatment which you would
not deny to a family member. Nothing I have read indicates that you
personally, or the Warden, have a special axe to grind. If you do,
shouldn't you recuse yourself, so to speak?
Are you so fearful of losing your grip on your career ladder that you cannot
take a humanitarian initiative? Or is finding a way too confusing? Isn't
there a lawyer, in the Justice Department for example, or even let's say by
calling the ACLU, who could help you find a way to take such an initiative?
Are you helpless? Do you have any sense of conflict? What is the problem?
If you are trying to make a martyr of Leonard Peltier, this seems a perverse
way to do so.
Please let me hear from you about the forces pulling you toward a
humanitarian solution as well as forces locking you into a bureaucratic
banality.
Sincerely,
David Lewit
cc: Rep. Michael Capuano
Sen. Edward Kennedy
Sen. John Kerry
Sen. Paul Wellstone
Warden Booker, Leavenworth Federal Prison
Box 1000, Leavenworth, KS 66048
*****************************************************************
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 19:24:30 +0000
To: •••@••.•••
From: Paul Swann <•••@••.•••>
Subject: Leonard Peltier, inmate #89637-132
Cc: •••@••.•••
Dear Ms. Hawk,
I am concerned about the state of health of Leonard Peltier, inmate #89637-132.
Having read an in-depth article about his case in a recent edition of the
London Guardian, I believe that Mr. Peltier should be given the treatment
he desires without delay.
I understand that Mr. Peltier needs x-rays to determine whether his
condition requires specialist treatment from Dr. Keller of the Mayo Clinic.
I urge you to do everything within your power to ensure that Mr. Peltier is
given every assistance in acquiring the treatment he has requested.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Swann
London Human Rights Forum
