Tuesday, January 28, 2014

On gratitude and the Passing of Pete Seeger

Greetings my friends, relatives, supporters:

I want to comment on a couple of different issues one is on a sad note, that Pete Seeger passed away.  When I say sad it is because we will miss the music he gave to the world, and gave to all the people who struggle against the injustices that take place throughout the world and humanity it seemed like he always had a song that would remind us of who we are and what our responsibility was/is to this existence.  I for one will miss him, he has been a strong supporter of the cause for justice in my case throughout many, many years. 

I will definitely miss Pete Seeger.

Whether he goes to heaven, someplace for a while or reincarnates I have no doubt a personality like his will ever be silenced by a mere passing of lifetime.
Thank you for the lifetime you shared with us Pete Seeger.

In keeping with being thankful, every day I wake up I am thankful for the many people who support Native American causes and the causes of all humanity thought the world.
There is no one person or one group that is totally responsible for probably any one thing as we know it.  All life and experience and existence is built upon the foundation of something before it.  I am especially grateful, and I would like to say again to Mr. James Anaya and all the people who worked so hard to facilitate his coming to see me.  It really means a lot, because I know he represents the thoughts and prayers of Native people all across this country that went to his meetings and have shared their concerns in my case, and when I say ALL across this country, I mean the far North into Canada and the far south into South America.  I especially want to thank the International Indian Treaty Council, who worked so hard to help bring this about. I also want  to say a special thanks to all of our Sisters in the movement, in saying that I do mean Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, and ALL of the courageous women who have worked for so many years and who stand up in their respected communities and are so much an inspiration to the children and to the men.

The women have always been the backbone of any movement throughout the world for they are the givers of life and the ones who have the very first influence on our children.

 With that I will close for now.   Again, thank you Pete Seeger.

 May we all be inspired by Pete Seeger and others like him.

Your friend in the struggle
In the spirit of Crazy Horse
Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin

Friday, January 24, 2014

U.N. Special Rapporteur Visits Leonard Peltier in Prison

Media Advisory/Press Release
Immediate Release:  01/24/14
Contact: Peter Clark, (505)301-5423, lpsupport@whoisleonardpeltier.info

 "… new consideration should be given to clemency for Leonard Peltier.”  Professor James Anaya
  On Friday January 24, 2014, United Nations Special Rapporteur, Professor James Anaya visited United States Penitentiary Coleman 1 in Florida, to meet with American Indian political prisoner Leonard Peltier.  Professor Anaya was accompanied by Leonard "Lenny " Foster, member of the Board of Directors of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), Supervisor of the Navajo Nations Correction Project, and Spiritual Advisor to Mr. Peltier for nearly 30 years. The historic, nearly four hour meeting began around 9 am. While the discussion Friday morning was meant to focus on executive clemency for Leonard Peltier, the conversation touched on many subjects, as Mr. Peltier was eager to hear the Special Rapporteur’s perspective on the worldwide condition of indigenous peoples.
 In a trial that is widely recognized as a miscarriage of justice, Leonard Peltier was convicted in 1977, in connection with a shootout with US Government forces, where two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and one young Indian man lost their lives. Every piece of evidence to convict Mr. Peltier has been since proven false.
 Professor Anaya is currently serving his second term as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People. In September 2012, following a series of consultation sessions with Indigenous Peoples throughout the United States, the Special Rapporteur produced  a  “ Country Report  on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples In the United States of America" (A/HRC/21/47/Ad)]. In the report, Professor Anaya called for freedom for Leonard Peltier, and stated:
"Pleas for presidential consideration of clemency…have not borne fruit. This further depletes the already diminished faith in the criminal justice system felt by many indigenous peoples…”
  The effort to engage the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the struggle to address justice for Mr. Peltier began in 2008, during a discussion between Lenny Foster and Alberto Salomando, former attorney for the IITC. Following the visit Lenny Foster stated:
‘The visit today by U.N. Special Rapporteur James Anaya to Leonard Peltier in prison is very significant and historic for us.  We thank him for working..to make this possible. This will support efforts for Executive Clemency for Leonard Peltier and promote reconciliation and justice in this case"
   Leonard Peltier said Friday “if the Constitutional violations that took place in my trial are allowed to stand, it will set precedence for future trials, and jeopardize the freedom and constitutional rights of all Americans."
  Also in attendance of the meeting Friday were:  David Hill, Director of the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (ILPDC), Peter Clark, ILPDC Chapter Coordinator and Unoccupyabq.org member.
 David Hill stated “that Americans can no longer afford to tolerate this miscarriage of justice and we shall make every effort to bring these judicial violations to the attention of all Americans, as well as internationally"

David Hill is the Director of the newly formed International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and recently opened ILPDC Head Quarters near USP Coleman, at 255 Primera Blvd., Suite 160, Lake Mary, FL 32746.
(407)641-5089  www.leonardpeltier.info