Danny Glover Commits to Meet Peltier Walkers in DC - May 18
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents.
Special thanks to Arthur Jacobs for photos and contribution to this story.
posted December 27, 2011
OAKLAND - The long walkers from the Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights on their way to Washington DC gained support in their efforts on Monday from award-winning actor Danny Glover, who participated in a press conference at Occupy Oakland.
Chief Harry Kindness, Danny Glover and Dorothy Ninham Praying at Occupy Oakland
"Let us mark this day, December 26, as a day of reconvening. Let us mark this day as the day of recommitting to join forces in our efforts to bring Leonard home," Glover told the 50 people assembled. "We have to continue in our efforts for Brother Leonard."
Danny Glover at Occupy Oakland with Leonard Peltier Long Walkers
After the press conference, Glover spent several minutes by telephone with the Native News Network discussing his involvement.
"I am involved because of the great injustice that was committed against Leonard Peltier. I believe he is innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted. During the trial there were at least 25 violations of the US Constitution committed against him. This is a travesty of justice," said Glover to the Native News Network.
"Then I think about the other injustices committed against Indians in this country," continued Glover. "I feel I have to lend my support."
"I plan on doing my part," Glover said when questioned about other Hollywood celebrities working on behalf of freeing Peltier. "I am really removed from Hollywood. I live in San Francisco, so I really don't hang with the Hollywood crowd. Marlon Brando is gone; I know he would have been here to help. Harry Belafonte is 85 years old and he probably cannot do much, but I know he has been supportive in the past."
"I plan on being in Washington on May 18," said Glover when asked about coming to Washington to greet the long walkers.
The Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights was launched on December 18 on Alcatraz Island by Dennis Banks, co-founder of the American Indian Movement. It will conclude in the nation's capitol on May 18, 2012.
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Copyright 2011 Native News Network llc 1774 Grant Birmingham, Michigan USA 48009
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[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.]
New Agers Need to Put Money Where Their Mouths Are to Free Leonard Peltier
by Corine Fairbanks in Native Condition
posted December 27, 2011
Corine Fairbanks on Pier 33
I attended the Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights on Sunday December 18 in San Francisco and I appreciated the messages of unity, peace and hope from the Elders that spoke on Alcatraz Island and again at the press conference on Pier 33. However, sometimes I find myself becoming angry at these types of events and these are a few reasons why.
The American Indian Movement has been fighting the New Age movement for over 30 years now. This business supports a billion dollar industry. For all of the rhetoric that these New Age predators use, such as: "love and light," and "be the change you want the world to be," they execute strategic marketing plans to profits from selling and desecrating our ceremonies, sacred objects, and medicines.
These New Agers are white collar pimps that prostitute our spirituality and culture to whoever has a buck. In doing so, they export it all over the world, yet never once take a moment to identify American Indians as real people with real needs and real life and death issues.
Then there are costume companies and clothing companies that capitalize on cheap imitations of American Indian regalia. You know the kind I am talking about, the "Native Poca-Hottie" Halloween costumes that non-Natives seemed determined to where. Even famous actresses wearing cheap mock war bonnets think it is chic and sexy.
Here again, how much of the profits go back to Native people?
All of the billions of dollars generated by both of the above business ventures and nothing comes back to our Native communities. None of their profits comes back to our food and Social Service programs, veteran programs, let alone to Leonard Peltier and his defense committee or legal fund. Our communities are in need of funding; whether they be in an urban setting struggling with poverty, or with our relatives still back in our homelands, some of them freezing to death because they cannot afford to heat their homes.
We need to pin these "pimps" to the wall! We need to make them accountable to the appropriation and exploitation of our culture and spirituality - and make them hurt where it can only hurt with these predators - through their wallet. At the end of the day, how many of them laugh at us while counting change from all the sales they have made?
Most of them claim to be Native or Indigenous, yet why have they not participated or demanded Peltier's release? Even one dollar from a thousand people could move mountains on some of these issues and help educate more people in who Leonard Peltier is. How many "Native" or "Indigenous People" have even ever heard of Leonard Peltier? How many know of the personal sacrifices this warrior and his family have made and the outcome of these sacrifices?
"Unlock Leonard! Bring Him Home" Declares Dennis Banks
by Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents
posted December 19, 2011 7:45 am est
ALCATRAZ ISLAND - Before the fog burnt off on Sunday morning, a group of two hundred American Indians and other protesters took the first two ferries to Alcatraz Island to launch the Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights.
They sang the American Indian Movement anthem and the Leonard Peltier song that was written for him decades ago
They drummed and sang before the first boat left Pier 33 from the mainland. They sang the American Indian Movement anthem and the Leonard Peltier song that was written for him decades ago.
Many of the old guard of the American Indian Movement ,including Dennis Banks, Tony Gonzales, Fred Short and Lenny Foster, were there to motivate the walkers who have embarked on a five month long walk across America from San Francisco to Washington.
Peltier, Lakota, has been in prison for the past 35 years. He was convicted of killing two FBI agents who showed up on June 25, 1975 at a private residence in Oglala, South Dakota.
Many American Indians and others around the world view Peltier as a political prisoner. Through the years, Peltier's supporters have included the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Bishop Desmond Tutu, among other prominent names.
Dennis Banks, dressed in a dark overcoat to beat the December chill, led the ceremony to begin the walk. Dorothy Ninham, Oneida, conceived of this walk and will lead the walkers across America to bring attention to Peltier's long-term imprisonment.
"Unlock Leonard! Bring Him Home," declared the Dennis Banks, lifting the "keys to Alcatraz".
National Park Service Ranger John Cantwell presented "keys to Alcatraz" to Banks
"For the past several years, Leonard has told me he just wants to go home,"
commented Lenny Foster, Navajo, who provides Peltier with spiritual advice, as he does to many American Indians who are in the federal prison system.
"Leonard sent me an email this morning expressing thanks to all of you who are here today to walk for his release," said Ninham, who has taken a leave of absence from her employment to lead the walk. She is joined by several members her family.
Speaker after speaker spoke of the long 36 years already served in prison by Peltier
"I think it is really good there seems to be momentum building to seek Leonard's release," said Adam Villagomez, Dakota/Ojibwa, who is a cousin of Peltier. "We know there will always be pressure by the FBI because this affected their agency."
Many cited the fact that during the ensuing years of Peltier's imprisonment, the federal government even admits they do not have proof Peltier pulled the trigger that killed the two FBI agents.
"The FBI was at war with us. They were mad that the American Indian Movement took over Wounded Knee." said Banks. "The day in question, they came to arrest Jimmy Eagle. They said he stole a pair of cowboy boots. Now, you know they don't sent out the FBI to capture someone who stole cowboy boots!"
"Meet us there in Washington, even if you cannot walk the entire way," said Banks, who will periodically join the walk on its way to Washington.
The Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights will conclude in Washington on May 18, 2012.
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Copyright 2011 Native News Network llc 1774 Grant Birmingham, Michigan USA 48009
+=+=+=+
[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.]
http://lpdoc.blogspot.com/2011/12/statement-from-leonard-peltier-from.html
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Statement from Leonard Peltier: From Behind the Iron Door
Hau Kola.
Greetings my friends, relatives, relations, supporters.
I wrote a statement the other day sitting here in my cell and I know that no one really cares to read something that is 6 pages long. So this is my effort to shorten it a little bit.
The first subject I want to touch on is being in prison for 36 years is hell. There are some folks who are planning to walk across America starting in California going to Washington D.C. to bring attention to the injustice that faces Indian people in the judicial system of America and of which I am some of the evidence of that. But first of all what I really want to say is I really appreciate and love the people that do things like this for those of us who are imprisoned. And if walking across America sounds like a lot try standing in an 8 by 6 cell for 36 years. But I want you to know as terrible and painful as this is in a strange way I am honored that the most powerful government has considered me a challenge that they would violate all their own laws to keep me imprisoned. In my standing I have stood for what's right. I have stood for the right of a people invaded by emissaries of the corporations they ultimately represent; the right of a people to defend themselves in whatever way necessary to defend their women and children and elders and life itself when attacked with deadly force by this government.
For some of you who may recently come in contact with my case, my case is one where an Indian community that had been continually terrorized by FBI and a goon squad funded by them on the reservation, had opposed the sale of 1/8th of the tribe's mineral resources and land. On June the 26th 1975, they attacked the village of Oglala on the Pine Ridge Reservation. It started with two FBI agents in unmarked cars and unmarked clothing, firing into an enclave of dwellings. The two agents numbers soon swelled to 250. In the ensuing battle the two initial agents were killed and one young Indian man, Joe Stuntz, was murdered by the FBI, shot between the eyes. Ultimately some 30 of us escaped. Two men, Bob Robideau and Dino Butler that were captured before I was, were put on trial and all the evidence of that day was allowed to be presented in their defense. And they were acquitted by reason of self-defense; the jury said they had the right to defend themselves with deadly force. I had escaped to Canada and was later apprehended there, the government perjured testimony, and they got someone to lie to bring me back from there. I was put on trial and all the evidence used to convict me was later proven false in court, as well as the lie to extradite me. And the same evidence used by the defense in the first trial was not allowed. They ultimately got a conviction saying I was guilty of murder which was later amended to aiding and abetting.
Then later an individual whom some called Mr. X, on tape admitted he was the shooter. Bob Robideau one of the original two men acquitted by reason of self-defense later told retired FBI Agent Ed Wood he was Mr. X and that he had shot the agents. Bob feared for his life. Bob didn't make his statement for many years. Bob did all that he could do to help me over the years and later started living in Spain. And then he made a statement to a few people that he was going to come back and speak more about being the shooter and being acquitted of the offense. And within about a month's time he was found dead in his apartment in Spain. He supposedly fell out of bed and hit his head and died. Having said that, my main point is that where all the evidence was allowed to be presented Indian people were found not guilty rightfully defended themselves by reason of self-defense.
There has not been a violation of human rights by America that wasn't first practiced on Native Americans. America's first biological warfare was against Indian people with small pox and measles infected blankets, the first concentration camps were against Indian people where they took their land and rounded them up. And Lincoln known for being against slavery, had 38 Indian men hung in unison in Mankato Minnesota for rebelling in the starving concentration camp they were confined to and there were camps all across this nation for American Indian people. The first atomic bomb was dropped on Indian land polluting it and destroying the water tables. To this day the result of their digging for uranium still pollutes parts of the Navajo reservation. They practiced sterilization of our women up until the late 1950s and even into the 60's. Up in Alaska they experimented with various forms of hepatitis on the native people there. The list goes on and on. Our people to this day suffer generational trauma as a result of the concentration camps and invasions and starvation and boarding schools that tried to destroy our culture. The death rate in the boarding schools was 50%.
To this day the unemployment rate for American Indians is 35%. What America calls "depression" has become a way of life for us. Bureaucrats scream and jump up and down about the Israelis right to claim their homeland, yet at the same time America still takes our land against our will, our homeland. The black hills of South Dakota was leased for 99 years the lease has been up for some 20 something years, but they will not return it. They have offered to pay some 3 billion dollars for the Black Hills. Why don't they take that money and relocate the non-Indians from there? There have been people complaining of a mosque in the proximity of the former World Trade Towers yet our sacred hills have Abraham Lincoln's face carved in the side of our sacred area, and George Washington who practiced a scorched earth campaign against our people in the East is there along with others.
I'm sorry if I'm getting carried away, I want America to be a great nation, but I want it to be fair to all people. We don't ask for anything that wasn't agreed to by this government. There's three hundred and seventy something treaties that cover most of our concerns. I apologize if in reading this in some way it hurts your celebration of the holidays. Its very difficult to not be negative when you are unjustly imprisoned for this long and every day you look through an iron door when the true enemies and terrorists are free to terrorize the poor and the oppressed of America. When the resources of America and the labor of its people is used to enhance the lavish lifestyle of some 2 to 3 % of the population that owns 96% of America's wealth or I should say owns and controls 96% of America's wealth then people like you and the people occupying Wall Street and walking across America are needed more than you would ever know.
I said I wouldn't make this too long and it seems I have gone back on my work. However in closing I would like to thank the National Congress of American Indians for passing a resolution supporting me in my bid for freedom. And I would especially like to thank Lenny Foster who has served as a spiritual leader in prisons throughout America who presented the resolution to the National Congress of American Indians. I would also like to thank all the others, too numerous to mention, who has supported me for so many years. I guess in some off handed way I have learned to live and exist by my contact with them over the years. This struggle has been long and difficult and I know at times I have offended people and hurt their feelings and for that I am deeply regretful. But rest assured I appreciate all of you in the deepest sense of the word. And I pray that this Holiday season brings joy to you and your families. And there is no greater gift that we can give our children and our children's children than freedom and a healthy earth.
I will close for now but unless they shut me up like they did Bob, you will hear from me again rest assured.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse and all the others that have died for their people,
Sincerely,
Leonard Peltier
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Posted by Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
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