Please Keep Leonard Peltier in Your Thoughts Tonight and Tomorrow

Good vibes, good thoughts, prayers to Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit) or whatever deity you choose {to include the Flying Spaghetti Monster} for Leonard Peltier tomorrow. He has a parole hearing tomorrow.

Who is Leonard Peltier? http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/index1.htm

:thumbsup:

I hope he is released.

:grouphug:

I was very disappointed that Clinton did not pardon him.

one of a list of American disgraces. I don't hate America, I hate the lack of real justice in this country.

I continue to find this situation untenable-- a true miscarriage of justice whether you thought Leonard to be originally guilty or not.


Good luck to you Leonard Peltier.

he's gone through enough for having done nothing to deserve this.

until the last FBI agent who framed him has the decency to die.

Wacinkiyuza, brother.

Thanks for reminding us, and for the very fine picture!

Anyone see a video on the news a few years ago that depicted some FBI agents marching to protest the idea of pardoning Peltier? They were goose-stepping like Nazis! It was so bizarre, I could scarcely believe it.

If that video exists on the Internet, I'd love to know about it. I haven't really searched for it, though.

:toast:

I wish it weren't so, but he'll be caught in the same Catch 22 they always use -- unless he admits he's guilty, they'll consider him unremorseful and therefore ineligible for parole.

I wish him justice, and above all else I wish him peace.

sw

Let's keep this on page one.

Our prayers for you, Mr. Peltier.

Unfortunately, he has done neither.

Even if he shot those Feds, it was only in self-defense.

But I am going to guess that I am not going to change your mind about this one.

Nobody knows who actually executed those agents for certain. Considering the uncertainty, isn't 33 years long enough to be locked up for the crime?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peltier#Shootout_at_Jumping_Bull_Ranch

had done. The fact that his story has changed numerous times over the years (I remember listening to an interview with him years ago in which his story changed twice over the course of the interview) and he hasn't even begun to show contrition for what he's done makes him a poor candidate for parole, in my opinion.

consider Leonard a political prisoner. You can think what you like.

Several human rights organizations that I respect (Amnesty International chief among them) have expressed concerns over his trial. Some of those concerns are valid, in my opinion, but I do not believe Peltier was unjustly convicted, and I certainly do not think he is innocent.

have been treated or rather, mistreated and lied to over and over again by the US government it surprises me that anyone can give any credence to what the US government says is true regarding the events of that day.

with Leonard Peltier. Of course, he and his attorney are pleased that that conflation, and many other people put it forward, but it doesn't make it any more valid.

What you believe doesn't make it less valid.

So tell me, how many times or how many years/decades/generations does a native non-white people have to stand by and endure as their people are told lie after lie and how long must they be submissive as they're abused again and again from their own government before they're allowed to defend themselves?

What is that magic formula?

And BTW we're talking 30+ years since this incident and the abuses against Native Americans and their sacred grounds are still taking place. Just so you're up to speed.

the Native Americans, because Leanard Peltier is not synonymous with Native Americans as a whole. No group in the U.S. has as large or as legitimate a grievance with the government as Native Americans, of that there can be no doubt. Recognizing the many wrongs that have been committed, and are still committed, however, does not mean that one must embrace Leonard Peltier.

And BTW we're talking 30+ years since this incident and the abuses against Native Americans and their sacred grounds are still taking place. Just so you're up to speed.

That's quite an insightful comment. Just out of curiosity, have you ever been on the Pine Ridge reservation? How about Rosebud? Lower Brule? Crow Creek? Sisseton Wahpeton? Yankton? Cheyenne River? Have you ever been to a pow wow? Have you ever spent any time in those sacred grounds you're talking about?

been to the Pine Ridge, and all over South Dakota in the 80's, 90's, and up until I returned to California in late 2005. As well as time spent with the Navajo, Paiute, and Hopi in the early to mid 70's.
As an observer of some ceremonies as well as an occasional participant. This white girl has numerous Native American friends in the US and Canada and my son is also 1/4 (or probably slightly less) Chickasaw from his fathers side.

I helped with investigation and information gathering for a documentary that my friends just recently won an award for it's called, On Sacred Ground, and they are as we speak filming in South Dakota and the southwest right now for the next documentary called, Dark Water, which is about how the uranium mining industry has polluted the streams and rivers. But hey they were mining on indian lands so who really cares right.

Check the link here under Documentaries
http://www.aegisfilmgroup.com/Home_Page.html

On Sacred Ground..
"The peace and serenity that envelops Bear Butte Mountain in South Dakota seems an unlikely venue for activism. It is here, amid the bucolic grasses and flowers, the grazing Buffalo and wild life that the stage has been set for battle.

While not Wounded Knee or Custer’s Last Stand it is still the stuff of history – and just as important to Native Americans. Whether they be Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Cheyenne or Cherokee, Bear Butte is a strong symbol of religious freedom and opposition to the white man’s continued ignorance, indifference and desecration of sacred Indian sites.


“On Sacred Ground” follows the fight of the American Indian Nation and its supporters to overcome this ignorance through legislative efforts, use of media and hitting the pavement informing and enlightening those who, in many cases, have no idea the damage being done by their very presence."


Dark Water..
"The American mining corporations’ dirty little secret comes finally comes into the light of day - and is being exposed for what it is – sometimes illegal, socially irresponsible and, in many cases, deadly.



Uranium mining is scarring the landscape, harming the planet and posing dire health consequences in communities throughout the Southwest of the United States.


One has only to look back in recent environmental history at the devastation and death left in the wake of Love Canal and Third Mile Island to see the future of corporate greed and disregard for the public health and well being.



These entities were allowed free reign to dump at will - in the case of Love Canal - and to allow human error to go unchecked at Three Mile Island – both ending up scarring land and lives in the process.


Dark Water charts the background of current companies whose main goal is their bottom line over the well-being and safety of the public at large."


So yea I do know a little bit about of which I speak.

Leonard Peltier is an individual, and not all Native American's struggles are summed up in his imprisonment.

Oh thanks for that little enlightened tid-bit of what ever that was suppose to be.

In other words you have absolutely no idea of what really happened nor do you really care. Leonard is guilty, period. Facts, circumstances and history be damned.

You were the one making broad (and fairly condescending, in my opinion) pronouncements about how I should bring myself up to speed on the struggles of Native Americans. I am merely pointing out that your sweeping statements are essentially non sequitors; one may understand that horrible injustices have been perpetrated against Native Americans, and yet still believe that Leonard Peltier committed murder.

In other words you have absolutely no idea of what really happened nor do you really care.

I believe that Leonard Peltier committed the crimes of which he was convicted. The fact that his story has changed numerous times over the years, and he has yet to show any remorse for his deeds makes parole inappropriate, in my opinion.

that one can appreciate the long history of injustice that Native Americans have suffered in the US without including Leonard's case, the opposite doesn't hold true: you cannot understand the dynamics of his case, without placing it in the context of US-Indian relations. I believe that is what our friend is saying to you.

Many of Leonard Peltier's supporters subscribe to the belief that if you believe he is guilty, it must therefore be true that you are not cognizant of the larger context of Native American issues, or the issues on Pine Ridge in particular. What I am saying is that Leonard Peltier supporters are far from having the market cornered on recognizing the larger issues, and resorting to that tactic is intellectually dishonest, in my opinion.

I clearly was not speaking in terms of "many" of his supporters. I was speaking about the individual that you were discussing the case with, and you. No false dichotomy there.

you do not know what "false dichotomy" means. As for the rest of your post, I'm not sure what you are talking about. That is not part of our limited discussion, does it? Hence, there must be some other reason for you to attempt to inject it.

But I'm still not sure what your point is, if not that dichotomy. If you do not think that one's opinion on Leonard Peltier is dependent upon one's opinion about the larger issues of Native Americans, what is the point of bringing it up?

The post you are quoting had nothing to do with our conversation. You know that. It's why you posted it -- thus answering your question of "what is the point of bringing it up?"

Thank you for the work that you do.

I'm familiar with the case in question, not just from reading about it and having known one of the attorneys for the defense (and being familiar with a few family members of others involved in the incident). Chiefs Paul Waterman and Oren Lyons had traveled to advocate for his safety while incarcerated, etc.

As I'm sure you know -- though clearly not everyone does -- the identity of the actual gunmen who executed the FBI agents is not a secret. Peter hints at it in his book, "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse," and CBS interviewed them (with faces hidden and voices changed) on 60 Minutes.

You're very kind. I feel I don't do near enough sometimes but I do what I can when I can. That is between my animal causes, marine mammal rescue and environmental habit and restoration work and researching for my film making friends, I stay pretty busy. And the shit I find out sometimes is maddening and most people don't know the half of it. That's what keeps me going.

Gotta go to work. Take care and we'll see ya later H2O Man:hug:

I will have to check out your documentary, thank you again

gotcha

UPDATE ON TODAY'S PAROLE HEARING!


In spite of scorching temps and humidity, there were several hundred people who attended and waited for several hours until attorney Eric Seitz came out and addressed the crowd. He said the FBI did not have anything new to say but that he was able to present some additional evidence on Leonard's behalf to the board. Leonard spoke with the board and answered questions for 1-1/2 hours. The hearing officer said he would look over his documentation and make a recommendation within 24-48 hours, at which time the parole board has up to 3 weeks to make a final determination. Leonard has expressed his thanks for all of the efforts made on his behalf today. Eric Seitz said he feels "optimistic."


http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/index1.htm

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also:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/28/758140/-Leonard-Peltiers-Parole-Hearing-Is-Officially-Over

from the Daily Kos coverage:

The case is still in review by the Parole Committee.
We must be proactive and persistent and encourage others to raise their voices and continue to speak out for Leonard Peltier - http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/index1.htm - !
Contact President Obama:
Whitehouse Comment Line: PH: (202)456-1111
Switchboard: (202)456-1414
FAX: (202)456-2461
You can also write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

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from http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/index1.htm :

The White House Comment Line (202-456-1111) has been busy all day; we have been provided another option. You can call the main White House line, which is 202-456-1414 which will get you into the system, and you'll be prompted to indicate that you want the comment line. Even though you'll probably be on hold for a few minutes, at least you will be able to leave your comment.

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Thoughts and wishes to Leonard as always.

:kick:

Greetings from Lewisburg, PA. As you know, Leonard's parole hearing was today. The attorney Eric Seitz is very hopeful about the outcome of the hearing. The government brought nothing new to the table and made it clear that their position is that LP should never be released despite his being eligible for parole. That, of course, is about nothing but revenge. Peter Matthiessen ("In the Spirit of Crazy Horse") was a witness today. He's attended many of the hearings, appeals, etc., over the years. He felt the examiner was attentive and open to what was being said on LP's behalf. He's also feeling positive. We're also told Leonard handled the Q&A (for about 45 minutes) very well. Unfortunately, there's nothing further to report. The examiner said he'd like some time before making a recommendation. We expect that Leonard will be notified of the recommendation within the next 24-48 hours. This is progress, folks. Normally a denial is made and immediately, sometimes even before LP's lawyers have even finished their presentation. Overall, the feeling is that Leonard received a fair hearing. Keep up those prayers for a positive outcome. Ultimately, of course, the full Parole Commission will make the final decision. We'll keep you posted.

-----

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

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


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solidarity

Set him free.....

Free Leonard Peltier!

free him now.

I was working outside, and his name just popped in my head. I will definitely keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

& burnin' Sage, here..
Thank You.

I wanted to post this but I was unsure?.
aho,
sage

:kick:

I hope he finally gets it.

I will keep Mr. Peltier in my thoughts and hope his hearing results in his freedom! I see up-thread those who attended are hopeful, that is good news.

I wish I had not been too late to recommend.

May the hearts of the Parole Board be opened, may justice and mercy prevail.

sw