Thursday, January 22, 2009

Leonard Peltier Beaten In Prison

I just received the following email. If you don't know Leonard Peltier's story, now's the time to learn about this Native American man who has been imprisoned for decades for a crime even the FBI admits he did not commit. They claim they don't have to release him because he was originally convicted. Now they are apparently trying to kill him before he can be released on parole. Please pass the word and do what you can.

Dear Leonard Peltier Supporters,

I am so OUTRAGED! My brother Leonard was severely beaten upon his arrival at the Canaan Federal Penitentiary. When he went into population after his transfer, some inmates assaulted him. The severity of his injuries is that he suffered numerous blows to his head and body, receiving a large bump on his head, possibly a concussion, and numerous bruises. Also, one of his fingers is swollen and discolored and he has pain in his chest and ribcage. There was blood everywhere from his injuries.

We feel that prison authorities at the prompting of the FBI orchestrated this attack and thus, we are greatly concerned about his safety. It may be that the attackers, whom Leonard did not even know,were offered reduced sentences for carrying out this heinous assault. Since Leonard is up for parole soon, this could be a conspiracy to discredit a model prisoner. He was placed in solitary confinement and only given one meal, this is generally done when you won't name your attackers; incidentally being only given one meal seriously jeopardizes his health because of his diabetes.

Prison officials refuse to release any info to the family, but they need to hear from his supporters to protect his safety, as does President Obama. His attorneys are trying to get calls into him now. This attack on LP comes on the heels of the FBI's recent letter, prompting this attack by FBI supporters as an attempt to discredit LPas a model prisoner. Anyone who has been in the prison system knows well that if you refuse to name your attackers or file charges against them, then you lose your status as a victim and/or are given points against your possible parole and labeled as a perpetrator.

It is not uncommon, in fact is quite common, for the government to use Indian against Indian and they still operate under the old adage "it takes an Indian to catch an Indian." In 1978, they made an attempt to assassinate him through another Indian man who was also at Marion prison with LP. But Standing Deer chose to reveal the plot to him instead of taking his life in exchange FOR A CHANCE AT FREEDOM. When Standing Deer was released in 2001, he joined the former Leonard Peltier Defense Committee as a board member. He also began to speak on Leonard's behalf until his murder six years ago today. Prior to his murder, Standing Deer confided with close friends and associates that the same man who visited him in Marion to assassinate Peltier, had came to Houston, TX and told him that he had better stay away from Peltier and anything to do with him.

We are aware that currently, the FBI is actively seeking support for his continued imprisonment and also seeking support from Native People. So please be aware, and keep Leonard in your prayers.

The FBI is apparently afraid of the impact we are having. If they will set him up to blemish his record just before a parole hearing, what will they do when it looks like his freedom will become a reality? We need to make sure that nothing happens to him again!

Please write, call, or email President Obama, urging him to grant clemency to Leonard before it is too late. Call or write your congressional representatives. Do what you can to get the word out to insure that LP is receiving adequate medical attention for his injuries. Also call Canaan Federal Prison at 570-488-8000 and request that Leonard be treated with dignity and respect. I am asking you, supporters of Leonard and advocates of justice, to help. I don't know what else to do. Please Help! Thank you.

Betty Peltier
Solano Executive Coordinator
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee

CONTACT:

Warden Ronnie R. Holt, Warden
USP-Canaan
U.S. Penitentiary
3057 Easton Turnpike
Waymart, PA 18472
Phone: 570-488-8000 Fax: 570-488-8130
E-mail address: caa/execassistant(at)bop.gov

D. Scott Dodrill, Director
Northeast Regional Office
Federal Bureau of Prisons
2nd & Chesnut Streets., 7th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-521-7301
E-mail: nero/execassistant(at)bop.gov

Harley G. Lappin, Director
Bureau of Prisons
U.S. Department of Justice
320 First Street, NW, Room 654
Washington, DC 20534
Phone: 202-307-3250 Fax: 202-514-6878

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461

6 comments:

Lorraine said...

Thanks for this post. I will be blogging about this on Monday.

changeseeker said...

Good morning, Lorraine. And thanks for passing it on. That's the blogosphere at its best!

Invisible Woman said...

great post.

changeseeker said...

Hey, Macon. Nice to see you around these parts. Yeah, I felt the same way when I first read about this. Hasn't the man suffered enough? I mean, WTF?

Welcome to the neighborhood, Invisible Woman. And thanks for the kind words. I noticed you read my post with the Fred Hampton quotes, too. Come on by anytime. Oh, and BTW -- I slipped over and checked our your blog. Fun. Did you ever see the 1970's film, "The Spook Who Sat By the Door"? I'd love to know what you think of it. I didn't see it until just a few months ago and it knocked me out. Especially for the time period in which it was made.

Anonymous said...

Get a clue, bro. Leonard Peltier is not only guilty, he is also unrepentant:

Twenty years is a long time to be in prison. Do you have any regrets about the choices you have made in your life?

No. None.

(See http://plazm.com/magazine/features/all-articles/leonard-peltier?p=3)

Watch the video at americanindianmafia.com and read their book, American Indian Mafia. It will open your eyes.

changeseeker said...

Not being sorry you had more integrity than those who torment you is hardly not being repentant, Anonymous. Even the FBI admits they don't think he did it. The prosecutors have said that they know he should have been released long ago, but they haven't done it because (get this) they "don't have to." It's apparent you don't know much about the case. The information is readily available. Oh, and I'm not a "bro," if you were talking to me when you said that.