Alice's Sharebook 

USA - Native/Indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier has been falsely and illegally imprisoned now for over 12,000 days of hell. FBI and local racist authorities set him up as a scapegoat. His case has been exposed internationally and there is NO legal case against him!

His parole hearing is coming in July, 2009. International support is URGENTLY reguested - please share this as widely as possible. Print letters are needed!!!!! Please mail your letter as soon as possible - all info below!

Now is the time to flood the parole board with letters from around the world demanding his release! Please join me in sending your own print letter. See sample letter at bottom. Please visit the Free Leonard Peltier website for the facts of the case, and to view Leonard Peltier's artwork and photos of his family and ongoing newsletter and support activities:

http://www.leonardpeltier.net/index.htm

Remember - when one person suffers injustice and hatred, all of us suffer! Never forget - political prisoners are our suffering brothers and sisters!

WE ARE ALL RELATED! MITAKUYE OYASIN!! -- Alice Winfree Bowron, Minnesota, USA.

***Sample letter below - feel free to copy/paste, cross-post and share:

June <>, 2009

United States Parole Commission
5550 Friendship Boulevard
Suite 420
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7286

Re: LEONARD PELTIER #89637-132

Dear Commissioners:

Mr. Leonard Peltier remains imprisoned at the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. I believe that he has earned the right to parole.

The court record in this case clearly shows that government prosecutors have long held that they do not know who killed Mr. Coler and Mr. Williams nor what role Leonard Peltier "may have" played in the tragic shoot-out.

After careful consideration of the facts in Leonard Peltier's case, I have concluded that Leonard Peltier does not represent a risk to the public. First, Leonard Peltier has no prior convictions and has advocated for non-violence throughout his prison term. Furthermore, Leonard Peltier has been a model prisoner. He has received excellent evaluations from his work supervisors on a regular basis. He continues to mentor young Native prisoners, encouraging them to lead clean and sober lives. He has used his time productively, disciplining himself to be a talented painter and an expressive writer. Although Leonard Peltier maintains that he did not kill the agents, he has openly expressed remorse and sadness over their deaths.

Most admirably, Mr. Peltier contributes regular support to those in need. He donates his paintings to charities including battered women's shelters, half way houses, alcohol and drug treatment programs, and Native American scholarship funds. He also coordinates an annual holiday gift drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Leonard Peltier is widely recognized for his good deeds and in turn has won several awards including the North Star Frederick Douglas Award; Federation of Labour (Ontario, Canada) Humanist of the Year Award; Human Rights Commission of Spain International Human Rights Prize; and 2004 Silver Arrow Award for Lifetime Achievement. Mr. Peltier also has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize six times.

Leonard Peltier is now over 60 years of age - a great-grandfather – and suffers from partial blindness, diabetes, a heart condition, and high blood pressure.

I recognize the grave nature of the events of June 26, 1975, and I extend my deepest sympathy to the families of those who died that day. However, I find aspects of this case to also be of concern and I believe Leonard Peltier deserves to be reunited with his family and allowed to live the remaining years of his life in peace. I also believe that, rather than presenting a threat to the public, Mr. Peltier's release would help to heal a wound that has long impeded better relations between the federal government and Native Americans.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I pray that you will act to bring peace and healing for Mr. Leonard Peltier at long last.

Sincerely,