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Tomorrow, 2/6/2010, is the anniversary of the Leonard Peltier's arrest in the travesty of horrors that led to the 'kangaroo court' sentencing and to his now nearly 34-year injust incarceration for a crime he did NOT commit. Please join me in phoning and/or faxing Justice Dept head, USA Attorney General Eric Holder, and demanding that an executive review be done of Mr. Peltier's case: to FREE LEONARD PELTIER! The numbers below come from the Free Leonard Peltier e-newsletter:

Phone: 202-514-2000   Fax:  202-307-6777  [I faxed]

Here is what I faxed to USA Attorney General Holder:

_______________________________________________

Honorable USA Attorney General Holder:

I am faxing your office on the eve of the anniversary of the February 6, 1976, arrest of Leonard Peltier on trumped-up charges.  It will be 34 years tomorrow, that Mr. Peltier has been suffering unjust and miserable incarceration in our nation that points to itself as the beacon of democracy around the world.  This is a disgrace.

I am a 62-yr old disabled woman, a tax-paying citizen, and for over half of my life now Mr. Peltier has suffered horrific injustice within our legal system.  It is time for CHANGE.  Time for an executive review of the case against Mr. Leonard Peltier. Time to FREE Leonard Peltier.

That is the kind of change that President Obama campaigned on, that caused me to sacrifice from my fixed-income, and to work so hard to register new voters and go door-knocking – even though I had to use a walker to do so.  I stood at the bus stop in my neighborhood, holding up my “Obama for President” sign, so that rush-hour drivers could see it. I blogged internationally, and I did fundraising on the Obama website.

So now I’m saying to you:  deliver on our President’s promise of meaningful CHANGE for all Americans, the same promise that was reiterated at the recent First Nations Summit in Washington, D.C.

I am not content to let Mr. Leonard Peltier rot in prison and die there, an innocent man. That is not how I was raised as a child, and that is not what it meant in school when we were told to salute the flag in school and say, “With liberty and justice for all.”

The Civil Rights Movement in this country had better be made truly to include First Nations, when it comes to the actions of the Obama Administration.  I confidently expect you to right the dreadful wrong committed against Mr. Peltier – and FREE HIM AS HE SO DESERVES.

Below is the e-newsletter sent to supporters, by Leonard Peltier, answering speculation about his 'death' - and other salient comments. Readers:  please go to the Friends of Peltier website via the click link at the bottom:

Greetings from the Iron House. It has come to my attention that a rumor has been circulating about my death. Sorry to disappoint the Trimbachs, Ed Wood, and all the other vermin, but I am still alive and kicking. I continue to struggle for the truth about my case-much of it hidden in the over 6,000 documents they are afraid to release-to see the light of day.

I have been monitoring the case with the Crow Creek tribe's land issues, and have been asked my opinion. As in nearly all things, I come down on the side of the tribe. Sovereignty and self determination are the lynchpins to Indian freedom. I want the people of Crow Creek to know they have my fullest support in their endeavors. This case affects all Indians, and should matter to all people of conscience. Everyone should monitor this case to its fullest conclusion, and know it is yet another example of Indian people's daily reality. The Indian wars are not over; they just are fought more in the courtrooms and the boardrooms these days. But the issues are mostly the same-the land, resources, and freedom. Freedom to think. Freedom to live as we wish. Freedom to be who we are.  Don't for a second allow yourself to think that the conspirators aren't working. They're out there, and as always they're plotting ways to dispossess and marginalize Indian people at every opportunity.

We were all sad to learn of the passing this past week, of Howard Zinn. A brilliant author, researcher, activist, not to mention a fine human being and a friend to my cause, his loss is a blow to all of us who struggle against oppression. Please send up prayers for his family and loved ones, and that his spirit has a good journey.

As always, a big thank you to my family and everyone else helping out at the office, and all my supporters' world wide. Through your efforts, one day we'll win my freedom.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

Leonard Peltier
Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Friends of Peltier
http://www.freepeltiernow.org/

info@freepeltiernow.org

THIS IS SO WRONG - ONLY WITH YOUR HELP CAN WE GET THIS TERRIBLE INJUSTICE REVERSED!!!!!

USA Indigenous/political prisoner Leonard Peltier has been denied parole in spite of the fact that he is in his sixties, in fragile health and has been a model prisoner - let alone that NONE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM WERE PROVEN AND THAT IN FACT HE WAS FRAMED. That has been detailed and verified by national and international experts. (Please see my original two Care2 Shares on this topic.)

WE CANNOT GIVE UP NOW! Our voices are more crucial than ever - we must go over the Parole Board and go to the federal authorities - join me in taking Leonard's case to the feds and reversing the Parole Board's decision!

Below is the information from Leonard's support organization. YOU ARE NEEDED - WE ARE ALL RELATED - MITAKUYE OYASIN! -- Alice B.

_________

info@freepeltiernow.org to me

"When you begin a great work you can't expect to finish it all at once; therefore, you and your brothers [and sisters] press on and let nothing discourage you until you have entirely finished what you have begun."--Teedyuschung, Delaware

News from North Dakota, today, is that Leonard Peltier's parole has been denied.  He won't receive another full parole hearing until 2024, at the age of 79 years.

As sad as we all are, we are steadfast, undefeated. We will not go away.  We will not be quiet.

Take a moment to reflect.  Just a moment.  But then put your disappointment behind you.  Gather your strength.  There's much work to be done.

* Action Item 1:  Contact the Attorney General *

On June 23, 1995, Amnesty International submitted a letter of concern about the Peltier case to the then U.S. Attorney General. There was no response. Write to Eric Holder, Attorney General. Ask him to conduct an executive review of the case and to finally right the wrongs of the past. Tell him it's never too late to find the truth. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Eric A. Holder, Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Or call the Office of the Attorney General at 202-353-1555.

And while you're at it, ask Mr. Holder why more than 140,000 documents from a 30+-year-old case are still being withheld by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Tell him America has a right to know what occurred over 30 years ago and demand the release of all documents related to the Peltier case.

* Action Item 2: Contact Members of Congress *

Use all the resources at your disposal to contact your Members of Congress and continue urging them to support freedom for Leonard Peltier. That support should be formally expressed in correspondence to President Obama.

Also demand a full congressional investigation into the Reign of Terror on the Pine Ridge Reservation during the '70s.  It's long past time for the truth to be told.  See:

<http://www.FreePeltierNow.org/call.htm>
<http://www.FreePeltierNow.org/write.htm>

Do you use Twitter?  Try using this service to quickly and easily reach your Members of Congress: <http://tcxs.net/>.

You also can sign the petition:

<http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Pine_Ridge/>.

Congress will not be in session for most of August.  This is a good time to meet with your Members of Congress in their home offices. Make the appointment now.  You can find locations, telephone numbers, etc., via our congressional directory:

<http://www.FreePeltierNow.org/congressmaster.htm>.

* Action Item 3:  Call the White House *

Call the White House comment line to express your outrage at the outcome of the parole hearing.  Demand that President Obama free Peltier now.  Call:

(202) 456-1111 or (202) 456-1112.

You also can send an e-mail to the White House. Go to
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/>.

If you prefer, mail or fax a letter:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC  20500
Fax - (202) 456-2461

Better yet... Do all three.

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Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Friends of Peltier
http://www.freepeltiernow.org/