Leonard Peltier

imprisoned activist

Born: September 12, 1944
Birthplace: Grand Forks, North Dakota

PLEASE CHECK OUT LINKS AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Harvey Ardens NEW BOOK

Have You Thought of Leonard Peltier Lately?, which documents

the last seven years of Harvey Arden's involvement in the quest for Leonard Peltier's freedom,

we also want to share many important pieces of Leonard Peltier's living history with you.

Author Harvey Arden has collected thousands of documents, photos, letters, emails, interviews,

statements, audio and video recordings,

and many amazing stories throughout his journey with Leonard over the years.

Leonard Peltier is a carpenter, welder, and American Indian Movement (AIM) leader

whose imprisonment since 1977 is considered a human-rights violation by such organizations

as Amnesty International.

January 23, 2004

Hau Kola, Hello my friends, my relatives:

You can never imagine the heartfelt comfort it brings to know you're not forgotten in prison.

 This is my 28th year, and I've seen others come and go and return again.

 I can't help but feel a great sorrow for many of these young men who keep coming back

for one reason or another; most of which are alcohol related offenses.

So much has changed since I came here and yet, in many ways, it's still the same.

The government, under the pretext of security and progress, liberated us from our land, resources,

culture, dignity and future. They violated every treaty they ever made with us.

I use the word "liberated" loosely and sarcastically, in the same vein that I view their use of the words
"collateral damage" when they kill innocent men, women, and children.

They describe people defending their homeland as terrorists, savages and hostiles,

 and accuse us of being aggressors. We have never fought a battle or war that was not on our own land;

we never fired the first shot ... ever. My words reach out to the non-Indian:

Look now before it's far too late - see what is being done to others in your name

and see what destruction you sanction when you say nothing.

Your own treaty, the one between yourselves and the government,

is being violated daily; this treaty is commonly known as the Constitution.

With us, they started a little at a time, encroaching on our rights until we had none at all.

It will be the same for the Constitution; this is not conjecture, but fact.

We are not embattled with the color of man, but with the weakness of man,

a mindset that lusts for power and wealth at the expense of life.

Men of all colors, cultures and religions must stand together to oppose the genocidal policies that
face us all as the corporate world seeks to enslave all, and pit one nation against another.

If you avoid breaking laws and do what you're told and ignore the poor,

the oppressed and the downtrodden - you probably won't be bothered.

If you try to right what is wrong, however, you will surely meet great opposition

 and run the risk of imprisonment or death.

I am a Sun Dancer. I took a vow for my people.

 I chose to seek the Creator's will and to follow it to the best of my ability.

I WILL NOT STAND DOWN FROM THAT VOW. I will continue to speak, write and organize

until Grandfather himself quiets my life.

If I can do this in prison, I have no doubt you can do much better from where you stand.

I encourage you to do your best, be kind to one another, seek harmony and balance with all natural life,

enjoy what freedom you have left, and most of all, never, never give up.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin

Writ of Habeas: Filed by Leonard Peltier Concerning the Federal Parole Commission

Not Setting a Parole Date

Author: Barry Bachrach, Peltier Attorney
Date: January 11, 2004

Web Posted January 15, 2004

The habeas filed by Leonard in the District of Colombia is extremely important to Leonard.

As requested, I am writing a summary of the position and why it is a strong case.

 In 1984, Congress passed a sentencing reform act which ultimately provided for the demise of the parole commissionand required the parole commission to establish a firm date of release for all prisoners

still within it jurisdiction within five years of the effective date of the act.

The commission was required to set the date within the guidlines and within enough time

to give the prisoners an opportunity to appeal from the date set by the commission.

This statute became effective on November 1, 1987, thus requiring the commission

to establish a firm date for parole within guidelines for Leonard prior to October 31, 1992.

Thus, under the applicable statute, as of November 1,1992,

the parole commission would have been abolished and Leonard would have been given

a release date within guidelines which means he would have been entitled to be released

 at 200 months, or Novermber 1992(200 months from 2/76).

Thirty six days after the statute became effective, congress amended the statute and,

as applicable here, the amendment omitted the mandatory release date

criteria and reinstated the parole commission and its previously terminated discretion.

The Congressional amendment unconstitutionally violated Leonard's rights by Congress'

enacting an ex-post facto punishment and a bill of attainder.

In short, once Congress mandated a release of those in Leonard's position within a

specific date within guidelines, Congress' subsequent repeal of that statute and its thereby increasing

the sentences of those in Leonard's position constitutes a violation of

Leonard's Constitutional rights and means he has been unconstitutionally incarcerated since 11/92.

He should be immediately released.

There is strong law in Leonard's favor, we need to rallyaround this issue and insure

 that the courts finally give Leonard the justice he is due.

Thanks, Barry Bachrach.

To enter the text that you'd like on your page, highlight this text with your mouse and begin typing to replace it. Edit images by "clicking" on them.

CLICK BANNER TO GO TO SITE

Click Banner Above to go to this new site by Harvey Arden

Website By