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<font size=3>Greetings from Lewisburg, PA. As you know, Leonard's
parole hearing<br>
was today. The attorney Eric Seitz is very hopeful about the
outcome<br>
of the hearing. The government brought nothing new to the
table<br>
and made it clear that their position is that LP should never be<br>
released despite his being eligible for parole. That, of course,<br>
is about nothing but revenge. Peter Matthiessen ("In the
Spirit<br>
of Crazy Horse") was a witness today. He's attended many of
the<br>
hearings, appeals, etc., over the years. He felt the examiner
was<br>
attentive and open to what was being said on LP's behalf. He's
also<br>
feeling positive. We're also told Leonard handled the Q&A
(for<br>
about 45 minutes) very well. Unfortunately, there's nothing
further<br>
to report. The examiner said he'd like some time before making<br>
a recommendation. We expect that Leonard will be notified of
the<br>
recommendation within the next 24-48 hours. This is progress,
folks.<br>
Normally a denial is made and immediately, sometimes even before
LP's<br>
lawyers have even finished their presentation. Overall, the
feeling<br>
is that Leonard received a fair hearing. Keep up those prayers<br>
for a positive outcome. Ultimately, of course, the full Parole<br>
Commission will make the final decision. We'll keep you
posted.<br><br>
----- <br>
Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.<br><br>
Friends of Peltier<br>
<a href="http://www.freepeltiernow.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.FreePeltierNow.org<br><br>
</a></font><h2><b>Rally calls for justice for Leonard
Peltier</b></h2><font size=3>
<a href="http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_209234743.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_209234743.html</a><br><br>
<b>By Brett R. Crossley<br>
</b>The Daily Item<br><br>
July 28, 2009 11:50 pm<br><br>
LEWISBURG Protesters lined the southwest corner of Route 15 and
William Penn Drive to fight for the release of Leonard Peltier as his
second parole hearing was held Tuesday afternoon.<br>
“The reason we are here is to bring attention to the illegal, immoral and
unjust incarceration of Leonard Peltier that has been going on for 35
years,” said Dave Hill, organizer of the protest. “Today, there is a
parole hearing, and he could be freed this time. We are here in
solidarity with the people trying to free him, and we are here in
solidarity with Leonard Peltier.”<br>
Peltier, who is serving two life sentences for the deaths of two FBI
agents during a 1975 standoff in South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation, is being held in the Lewisburg Penitentiary. William Penn
Drive leads to the institution in Kelly Township, Union County.<br>
Bill Carter, a Washington, D.C.-based FBI spokesman, said: “Today was
merely a hearing to review the parole request. The hearing was over at 1
p.m. Out of this hearing will come a recommendation that will be made
before a full parole panel as to how to proceed. As I understand it,
those recommendations will be made within 21 days.”<br>
Because the hearing officials still are deliberating, Carter declined to
say anything else. When the panel makes a recommendation, he said, the
FBI will issue a statement.<br>
Peltier’s attorney, Eric Seitz, agreed with the timing. He expects a
decision from the U.S. Parole Commission within three weeks.<br>
Peltier was convicted in Fargo, N.D., more than 30 years ago. He has
claimed the FBI framed him, which the agency denies.<br>
Peltier grew up on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North
Dakota. Seitz said the tribe sent a representative to Tuesday’s parole
hearing to outline arrangements the tribe has made to incorporate Peltier
back into the community if he is paroled.<br>
“We are trying to educate people,” Hill said. “If you don’t ask
questions, you’ll never get answers. As we talk to the press, the news
goes out, and people will start investigating.”<br>
Peltier’s sister attended the rally to lend her voice to those seeking
her brother’s release. “I am really confident they will do the right
thing and obey their laws,” Betty Solano said. “I need my brother. I need
him home. Enough is enough. He is an innocent man, and it has gone on
long enough.”<br>
Peltier’s only other shot at parole came when the Clinton administration
was still in the White House. Rumors that Bill Clinton was going to grant
him clemency led to a protest from the FBI.<br>
“It would be my dream come true if he walked through the gates today,”
Solano said. “It makes me proud and humble. I feel so proud of my brother
that so many people care for him. All he wants to do is help his
people.”<br>
Solano lives in Fargo, N.D., and works as the coordinator for the Peltier
defense committee. Despite being hundreds of miles away, Solano makes the
long drive to see her brother a few times a month.<br>
“We’ve been lucky to be able to see him a couple times a month,” she
said. “When I lived in Washington state, it was tough to get here. We
usually drive.”<br>
Peltier was placed on the FBI’s 10 most-wanted list after the shootings.
He was picked up in Canada and fought extradition to no avail. He was
convicted and sentenced to serve two life terms.<br>
“We have a stake in this because a man is in prison,” Hill said. “The
government has lied, manufactured evidence, and even though this has been
proved and recognized in court, they’ve done that and you don’t get a new
trial? If you don’t get a retrial, then that jeopardizes the right to a
fair trial for all people.”<br>
John Trimbach, the son of an FBI agent who was at Pine Ridge, says
Peltier should not be freed until he admits responsibility for what
happened and shows remorse.<br>
n With reporting by staff writer Rick Dandes. The Associated Press
contributed to this report. <br><br>
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc. <br><br>
<br><br>
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