{"article":{"id":136529,"heading":"Freedom For Leonard Peltier","author":"Geri Timmons","created":"2005-10-03 15:20:26","modified":"2005-10-03 15:20:26","last_modified":"Mon, 03 Oct 2005 22:20:26","article":"

The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee in collaboration with Peoples' Fast for

Justice will be fasting for Leonard's freedom and for an end to the celebration

of Oct 12th as Columbus Day, beginning Oct 1-12. Just as we have established

weekly prayers for Leonard on Mondays at 6 PM, we want to strengthen our

spiritual campaign for justice. When we deprive our bodies of food and water we

do not just carry out an action of solidarity with our warrior deprived of

freedom, but we also elevate our spirits, unify our minds and bodies, and

strengthen our prayers. Please read the enclosed annoucement from Ted Glick

and Esperanza Martell for more information regarding our fast! For additional

information please contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee at

info@leonardpeltier.org<\/a> or Peoples Fast for Justice at: futurehopeTG@aol.com<\/a>

In Solidarity

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee



Freedom for Leonard Peltier!

October 12th is Indigenous Peoples Day!

Since 1992 people have been fasting and acting locallyduring the October 1-12

period of time, calling for freedom

for Leonard Peltier and for an end to the celebration of October 12th as

\"Columbus Day.\"

We invite you to join us in fasting for these 12 days,or for whatever time

period you can do, or through your

taking action in other ways during this time.

Leonard Peltier is a political prisoner, as established by

Amnesty International, and has been unjustly incarcerated for nearly 3 decades.

Peltier was convicted of murdering two FBI agents, even though those agents were

leading a military attack against the Oglala people, mostly unarmed women and

children. Leonard and other warriors stood up to defend them. Furthermore, the

prosecution has since admitted in open court (Oct. 15, 1985)that the government

did not have proof of who killed their agents. The courts have also admitted

(10th Circuit Court

of Appeals) that \"the prosecution of Mr. Peltier is to be condemned; they

withheld evidence and coerced testimony.These facts are undisputed\".

Leonard Peltier is an advocate of peaceful resolution of all issues and has been

instrumental in getting people from different tribes with a history of animosity

to come

together in peace. He has piloted the Leonard Peltier Health Care Reform Package

whose intent is to fundamentally alter health care delivery on reservations

throughout the

US. Peltier has established a

scholarship at NYU for Native Students seeking law degrees,has implemented job

creation\/job training programs and is the sponsoring father of two children in

ChildReach.

Peltier has sponsored clothing, emergency food and toy drives and distributes to

Head Start, halfway houses and women's centers. Peltier serves on the board of

the

Rosenberg Fund for Children and donates his artwork to

several human rights and social welfare organizations,

including the Leonard Peltier Charitable Foundation. He has

been widely recognized for his efforts and has won several human rights awards,

including the North Star- Frederick Douglas Award; Humanist of the Year Award

and most recently,

is a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.

We must continue the struggle for Leonard's freedom andfor justice for the

Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.

Leonard is a symbol of much that is both terrible and hopeful about our world

today. He is an innocent man

suffering in prison for close to three decades because of willful racism and

unjust oppression. He is a strong man

suffering in prison for his people and for the truth,refusing to give up,

leading by example. As he said in a

letter from prison two years ago, \"Although prison life

becomes more and more difficult with age, my spirit remains unbroken, and I

still dream of rejoining my people in

freedom and continuing our work for human right andjustice.\"

We must honor, respect and support such leaders. By supporting them we remain

true to the best within ourselves.

We urge you to join us.

Ted Glick and Esperanza Martell, for the

People's Fast for Justice, futurehopeTG@aol.com<\/a>,

P.O. Box 1132, Bloomfield, N.J. 07003, 212-927-9065,

973-338-5398

Name____________________________Address_________________

City________________________State_____Zip______________

Telephone(s)__________________________________Fax_______

Email__________________________________

__I will fast with you for 12 days from October 1-12.

__I will fast on the following days:____________________

__I will organize or join local events on Indigenous Peoples

Day weekend. (For information on possible local contacts in

your area contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee,

info@leonardpeltier.org<\/a>\/ 915 - 533-6655

__Please put me on your People's Fast for Justice email

list.

__Enclosed is my donation of $_______.

<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Fasting In Solidarity","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2005\/10\/136529.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}