Date: Sat, 02 Dec 2000 20:19:17 -0600 From: Darrell Rankin <•••@••.•••> Subject: [PEACETALK] Leonard Peltier, appeals for support; Dec. 10 day of action Dear Friends, I have received a request to circulate information on two international days of action for Leonard Peltier and for Mumia Abu Jamal. Both are urgent requests, groups and individuals supporting these causes are asked to do what they can to mobilize public opinion in support of these actions. Below are two email requests on Leonard Peltier, and some information from the International Action Center website. The Dec. 1 deadline in one of the emails, it appears, is not firm as actions are continuing until at least the international day of action on Dec. 10. Regards, Darrell Rankin * * * * * The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee has issued this urgent action alert. CALL THE WHITE HOUSE FOR LEONARD PELTIER : 202-456-1111 CLEMENCY MAY BE DECIDED SOON : IT'S NOW OR NEVER EXTREMELY URGENT ACTION Dear Friends, We have some very exciting news for everyone! President Clinton has publicly confirmed that Leonard's clemency petition has reached his office, and that it will be decided one way or the other in the very near future. Quite possibly, a decision could be made over the Thanksgiving holiday! It looks like critical decisions are being made in the White House RIGHT NOW. Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard the last many years for Leonard. You have brought this case right up to Clinton's desk. But now we must work harder than ever for the next few weeks. We are down to the wire and this is literally a matter of life and death. It looks like Bush might be the new President, and you know what that means for clemency for Leonard. It is now or never for telling the White House how we feel about the case. We are asking people to call every single day to the White House, starting now, and up through December 1. (We will send out new information then).While it is possible that a positive decision might take longer, we must make very sure that Leonard's case is not dropped from the list in the early stages. The FBI camp has initiated their own phone campaign to the White House protesting clemency. WE MUST DROWN THEM OUT. Leonard's support across country is huge, but we must now make ourselves heard, more than ever. PLEASE CALL THE WHITE HOUSE COMMENTS LINE EVER DAY THROUGH DECEMBER FIRST! TRY TO ORGANIZE AS MANY FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE CALLS WITH YOU! To reach the White House Comments Line just call 202-456-1111. You will get a recording, but you can skip it by dialing "0" for the live people. What counts is that hundreds of calls come in every single day. Clinton needs to know he has our full support for Leonard's release. You may get an operator who seems very interested in talking, or someone who does not want to talk at all and doesn't care. This doesn't matter at all either. Whoever answers your call, they must tally the total at the end of the day and send the numbers upstairs to Mr. Clinton. Keep the message courteous and straightforward. Here is a sample : 1. Identify yourself and your state and any nation you belong to.and any job title if you wish. 2. Explain that you want Clinton to immediately and unconditionally release Mr.Peltier. 3. Explain that Mr.Peltier never got a fair trial because the FBI coerced witnesses and concealed the ballistics test reflecting his innocence. 4. Mr.Peltier especially deserves clemency because of his incredible record of good deeds behind bars, like sponsoring a Native scholarship program, adopting children in Central America, supporting battered women's centers and substance abuse programs, and sponsoring an annual Christmas clothing and toys drive for the children of Pine Ridge. 5. Time is running out to resolve this national tragedy, because Peltier now suffers from diabetes, a heart condition and high blood pressure. 6. Releasing Mr.Peltier will be an important first step in national reconciliation between the United States government and the Native American people of this country. If you wish to write as well as call, the White House fax number is 202-456-2461. Be in New York City December 10th Peltier Walk For Freedom! Leonard Peltier Defense Committee PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044 785-842-5774 www.freepeltier.org * * * * * From: Arthur J. Miller Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 Subject: Clinton Commits to ruling on Peltier's Clemency Please Post Widely AN URGENT APPEAL TO NORTHWEST ACTIVISTS Greetings To All, As many of you know President Clinton has stated that he will rule on Leonard Peltier's appeal for clemency before he leaves office. He has stated that there is strong support for and against clemency and that he will consider both in his decision. The forces that stand against Leonard, mostly the FBI and their supporters, have done some powerful public organizing to influence Clinton against clemency. The FBI's statements have been proven lies. The fact is that the FBI is the most powerful political police in the world and in the history of the world and they have not only used their power to suppress parts of the Native movement, but also they have acted against every movement they saw as threatening the political repressive system they act to support. We saw it in the Civil Rights movement and what they did to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, we saw it in the peace movement, we saw it in all the movements of people of color, we saw it in the labor movement, we saw it in the environmental movement (remember Judi Bari), and we have seen it in so many other movements. We even have seen it in the anti-globalization movement of today. The time is now to stand up to the FBI and political repression for the benefit of all movements, all people and the future generations. Leonard Peltier was a Northwest activist. He lived in Seattle and was a part of the movement in Seattle. He did not just involve himself in the Native struggle in our region, but as many people who knew him back then can tell you, he actively supported many struggles and was always a person you could count on if you were in need, he has continued to be that same type of person in prison. Given Leonard's direct connection to our region, we, the social justice activists of this region, need to voice strong support for Leonard at this time. I do not ask people to stop everything else that they are doing in order to support Leonard. I know that Leonard himself would never ask that. But I do plead with you all to give a little time to support Leonard and please use the other things that you do as resources to mobilize support for Leonard. A good example is the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587 of Seattle and Olympic peninsula areas on October 16th passed a resolution in support of clemency and sent it to Clinton. This is a very hard and important struggle and time in history. Each and everyone of you can help make a difference. Please read below the things that you can do to help and please help where you can. I wish to thank everyone who has helped this important struggle over the years. In Solidarity Arthur J. Miller Co-Coordinator Northwest Leonard Peltier Support Network P.O. Box 5464 Tacoma, WA 98415-0464 Voice Mail: (253) 593-9631 e-mail: •••@••.••• or •••@••.••• THINGS YOU CAN DO IN THE NORTHWEST TO HELP 1. Send messages in support of clemency for Leonard Peltier, by phone, fax, mail and/or e-mail to: President Bill Clinton The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C., 20500 USA Fax: (202) 456-2461 White House Comments Line (202) 456-1111 E-Mail: •••@••.••• 2. Ask your family and friends to also send messages to Clinton. 3. Get unions, churches and other organizations to pass resolutions in support of clemency for Leonard Peltier and send them to President Clinton. Please send copies to the NWLPSN. 4. Forward this message to everyone you know. 5. Send a donation to the NWLPSN. We are hoping to organize a march and rally in Tacoma, do a large mailing to supporters, and possibly run ads in newspapers. The NWLPSN has done so much so far this fall that we have used up what money we raised. 6. Educate yourself on Leonard's case by checking out the following web site: www.freepeltier.org. "We must each be an army of one in the endless struggle between the goodness we are all capable of and the evil that threatens us all from without as well as from within. Yes, we can each be an army of one. One good man or one good woman can change the world, can push back the evil, and their work can be a beacon for millions, for billions. Are you that man or woman? If so, may the Great Spirit bless you. If not, why not? We must each of us be that person. That will transform the world overnight. That would be a miracle, yes, but a miracle within our power, our healing power. To heal will require real effort, and a change of heart, from all of us. To heal means that we will begin to look upon one another with respect and tolerance instead of prejudice, distrust, and hatred. We will have to teach our children--as well as ourselves--to love the diversity of humanity. To heal we will have to make a conscious effort to live as the Creator intended, as sisters and brothers, all of one human family, caretakers of this fragile, perishable, and sacred Earth. To heal we will have to come to the realization that we are all under a life sentence together...and there's no chance for parole. We can do it. Yes, you and I and all of us together. Now is the time. Now is the only possible time. Let the Great Healing begin." Leonard Peltier From: My Life Is My Sun Dance * * * * * Here is some information on activities from the International Action Center website: SUNDAY DECEMBER 10, 2000: COUNTDOWN TO CLEMENCY, WALK FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN NYC The walk will be led by members of the Pine Ridge Lakota Nation and members of Leonard Peltier's family. Come show your solidarity by representing your Native Nation, church, organization, union, or just yourself. New York City-- Indigenous Rights Activist, Leonard Peltier, is currently facing what may be his only chance for freedom for years to come. Leonard Peltier has been unjustly imprisoned for over 24 years. Amnesty International considers him to be a political prisoner who should be immediately and unconditionally released. Despite the fact that formerly withheld evidence forced the US prosecutor to admit that he could not prove who was actually guilty of the crime he was convicted of, Leonard Peltier's court appeals are exhausted and his chances for parole are very slim. His only remaining avenue for release lies in the hands of President Clinton through a grant of Executive clemency. Time is running out! As part of our emergency effort to gain Leonard Peltier's long overdue freedom, we are organizing a major event in New York City on Sunday, December 10, which is Human Rights Day. This will be a time for us to send a positive and united message of support for Leonard Peltier's freedom, as a gesture of truth and reconciliation for all Indigenous Peoples. We will gather in Union Square at 12:00 noon and we will walk to the United Nations (Dag Hammarskjold Plaza) where a candlelight vigil and program of speakers, cultural activities, and traditional music will be presented from 2pm-4pm. The walk will be led by members of the Pine Ridge Lakota Nation and members of Leonard Peltier's family. Come show your solidarity by representing your Native Nation, church, organization, union, or just yourself. The event will be peaceful. No alcohol or drugs. For updates contact the New York City Hotline: 212-539-6027. To find out how you can help make this a successful event, contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee: 785-842-5774. Thank you. In Solidarity, The LPDC PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTDOWN TO CLEMENCY PELTIER WALK FOR FREEDOM AND OTHER SOLIDARITY EVENTS PHILADELPHIA: Seats are now available for the Freedom Walk for Leonard Peltier. This event takes place on December 10th in NYC. The walk will start at Union Square and end at the UN (Dag Hammerscold Plaza) This is a respectful walk that will include 50 residents of Pine Ridge Reservation who will be arriving from South Dakota. Bus trip from Philadelphia: Seats are $12 round trip We leave at 8:30am from 4601 Market Street We will be leaving NYC by no later than 6pm to return home SEATS ARE BEING SOLD NOW!!! DONT GET SHUT OUT!!!! Seats are confirmed when payment is made - no exceptions! To call for reservations and information: (215) 727-0882 Box 4 Checks can be mailed to: Janet Cavallo 500 S. Melville St Phila., PA 19143 We have a deadline of Thanksgiving so get your seat confirmation now! Mark December 10th on your calendar for Leonard's Freedom Walk. American Friends Service Committee has endorsed this event. Thank you, Janet
