<html>
<body>
<font size=3>MEDIA ADVISORY<br>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
04 November 2011<br><br>
Contact: Delaney Bruce, Legal Team Liaison, Leonard Peltier Defense
Offense Committee, PO Box 7488, Fargo, ND 58106;
701-235-2206, contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info<br><br>
</font><font size=4><b>National Congress of American Indians unanimously
supports freedom for Leonard Peltier<br><br>
</b></font><font size=3>During its annual conference this week in
Portland, Oregon, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
unanimously passed a resolution in support of freedom for Leonard
Peltier.<br><br>
An innocent man, Native American activist Leonard Peltier was wrongfully
convicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1977. Imprisoned for nearly 36
years—currently at the federal prison in Coleman, Florida—Peltier has
been designated a political prisoner by Amnesty International. Nelson
Mandela, Desmond Tutu, 55 Members of Congress and others—including a
judge who sat as a member of the court in two of Peltier’s appeals—have
all called for his immediate release. Widely recognized for his
humanitarian works and a six-time Nobel Prize nominee, Peltier also is an
accomplished author and painter. <br>
ter. <br><br>
The NCAI has adopted resolutions on behalf of Leonard Peltier in the
past. In 1999, the NCAI also supported the Assembly of First
Nations in Canada in an historic joint resolution. <br><br>
"It's long past time for the healing to begin between Indigenous
Nations and the U.S. government—with regard to the Peltier case, as well
as other tragic incidents of the past. The NCAI is eager to work
with the Obama Administration to work towards that end," said a
spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee in Fargo,
North Dakota.<br>
The Peltier case has been examined by renowned author Peter Matthiessen
("In the Spirit of Crazy Horse") and by a documentary film
produced and narrated by Robert Redford ("Incident at
Oglala"). Although the courts have acknowledged evidence of
government misconduct—including the coercion of witnesses, the
intentional use of false testimonies, and the concealment of ballistics
evidence reflecting his innocence—Peltier has been denied a new
trial. <br>
<br><br>
The power to commute Peltier's sentence of two life terms rests with
President Obama.<br><br>
"Mr. Peltier is 67 years old and in poor health. This is the
very time for renewed commitment and unity. We're very pleased that
the Indigenous Nations have taken this action on Mr. Peltier's behalf and
are actively involved in securing his freedom."<br><br>
The Peltier resolution was unanimously approved in committee on November
2 and presented in the plenary session earlier today.<br><br>
Informed of the NCAI's decision, Leonard Peltier stated, "This means
so much to me. I'm grateful for the support of my People. I
thank the NCAI for their efforts."<br><br>
###<br><br>
To learn more about the Peltier case, visit
<a href="http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info. /" eudora="autourl">
www.whoisleonardpeltier.info. </a> Also view "US Versus Leonard
Peltier: Evidence of a Wrongful Conviction. From the files of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation" at
<a href="http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/download/CriticalFBIDocs.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/download/CriticalFBIDocs.pdf</a>.
<br><br>
<br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#0000FF">
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.Freedomarchives.org</a></font><font size=3> </font></body>
</html>