[Ppnews] How Leonard Peltier Could Leave Prison

[Political Prisoner News]

<http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/7/2009/1759>http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/7/2009/1759 


<http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/7>Harvey Wasserman

How Leonard Peltier could leave prison by August 18
July 30, 2009

For a formidable and growing global community of 
supporters, the prospect of Native American 
activist Leonard Peltier finally leaving prison 
inspires a longing that cuts to the depths of the soul.

So Peltier’s first parole hearing of the Obama 
Era---on Tuesday, July 28---inspired hope of an 
intensity that will have a major impact on the 
new presidency. A decision must come from the 
Federal Parole Commission within three weeks. His 
attorney is calling for a surge of public support 
that would create an irresistible political climate for Leonard’s release.

The relationship between Peltier and those who 
have followed his case over the decades can be 
intensely personal. His imprisonment has come to 
stand not only for five centuries of unjust 
violence waged against Native Americans, but also 
for the inhumane theft of the life of a man who 
has handled his 33 years in jail with epic dignity, effectiveness and grace.

Peltier’s latest parole hearing convened at the 
federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, 
where he is currently held. According to Eric 
Seitz, Peltier’s Honolulu-based attorney, Peltier 
spoke for more than an hour “with great 
eloquence” about the nature of his case, his 
imprisonment and his plans for freedom. “The 
hearing officer seemed to listen carefully,” said 
Seitz. “We thought it went very well.”

The decision on Peltier’s parole will be made by 
the four sitting members of the Federal Parole 
Commission 
(<http://www.usdoj.gov/uspc/>http://www.usdoj.gov/uspc/ 
) whose offices are in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Commissioners Isaac Fulwood, Jr., Cranston 
Mitchell, Edward Reilly and Patricia Cushware are 
all Bush appointees. One seat is vacant; Fulwood 
was elevated to the Chairman’s seat in May by President Obama.

According to Seitz, the hearing was taped by an 
officer charged with reporting to the 
Commissioners within 48 hours. The Commissioners 
are required to render a decision within 21 
days---by August 18. Should they rule in his 
favor, Peltier could walk out of prison very soon 
after the decision is issued.

Should the Commssioners turn down his parole 
application, Seitz says the appeal would go to 
the federal district court in Harrisburg. The 
report of the hearing would become available to Peltier and the public.

Seitz said he spoke to the record for about 20 
minutes on the legalities of the case. He said 
Peter Mattheissen, author of IN THE SPIRIT OF 
CRAZY HORSE, explained the history of the 1970s 
incidents that led to Peltier being accused of 
murdering two FBI agents. CRAZY HORSE is the 
definitive account of the origins of the case and 
of the climate of violence and repression imposed 
on the native community at the time of the 
killings. Seitz said Mattheissen emphasized “the 
many reasons to have misgivings about whether the 
system performed well and fairly in Leonard's case.”

Mattheissen was joined by Dr.Thomas Fassett of 
the United Methodist Church, who testified, said 
Seitz, “to the negative impact of Peltier’s 
33-year imprisonment on the world’s view of how 
the US government treats its native population. 
Leonard's case is viewed in the larger community 
both nationally & internationally as a major 
embarrassment
as a gross injustice
a black mark.”

The testimony was accompanied by thousands of 
letters, with signees including South African 
Bishop Desmond Tutu, US Senator Daniel Inouye 
(D-HI), and actor Robert Redford, whose film 
INCIDENT AT OGALALA is the definitive documentary.

Cynthia Maleterre of the Turtle Island Clan then 
outlined how Peltier could meet the requirements 
of parole in his home community in North Dakota. 
Restored to his Chippewa-Dakota homeland, 
Maleterre explained that Peltier would have 
housing, a job and be surrounded by family, 
including great-grandchildren he has never seen.

Seitz said testimony opposing parole came from a 
representative of the FBI, sent by Director 
Robert Mueller, a holdover Bush appointee, and 
from the former director of the Minnesota Bureau. 
Two sons of Jack Coler, one of the FBI agents 
killed in the Ogalala shoot-out, also argued 
against Peltier being freed, as did a former agent named Ed Woods.

Seitz said that all those opposing parole argued 
Peltier should spend the rest of his days in 
prison, and did not deserve a new trial.

But Seitz was “guardedly optimistic” about a 
favorable decision from the Parole Commission. He 
said that a “good rapport” had been established 
with the hearing officer, and that the new chair 
of the commission is generally held “in high esteem.”

President Barack Obama does have the power to 
grant clemency, but Seitz said prisoners apply 
only when all other avenues have been exhausted. 
Usually, says Seitz, “presidential pardons do not 
come until the Chief Executive is leaving office.”

Seitz says letters to the Parole Commission and 
to local newspapers, calls to Congressional 
Representatives (202-224-3121), talk show hosts 
and other forms of public pressure are now of the 
utmost importance. The hope, he says, lies in 
creating a “public environment favorable to release.”

As Leonard Peltier approaches his 65th 
year---having spent half his life in 
prison---every day is now critical to lifting 
this burden from our collective souls.

For more information go to 
<http://www.leonardpeltier.net/>http://www.leonardpeltier.net.
*************************************************************
SF Vigil For Leonard Peltier
by Michael Steinberg ( 
<mailto:blackrainpress at hotmail.com>blackrainpress [at] hotmail.com )
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/29/18613145.php

Wednesday Jul 29th, 2009 11:17 PM
On Tuesday July 28 supporters of Leonard Peltier 
gathered for a prayer vigil at the San Francisco 
Federal Building on the day of his first parole hearing in 15 years.

The day began dark, raw, drizzly. The prayer 
vigil for political prisoner Leonard Peltier 
started at 6 a.m., just before sunrise here. It 
was then 9 a.m. at the Lewisburg Federal Prison 
in Pennsylvania, where Leonard Peltier’s first 
parole hearing in 15 years was getting under way.

In front of the Phillip Burton Federal Building 
on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco, metal 
barriers blocked off the vigil area from the rest 
of the plaza there. Various security personnel in 
various uniforms scrutinized those gathered for the vigil.

The dark tall building loomed over the vigilers 
like a prison, and their fenced off space 
resembled what’s called a “free speech area” these days.

Since most of the vigilers were the indigenous 
people of this land, the area actually resembled 
what’s still called a reservation.

Yet inside the gathering place there were stout 
hearted freedom loving people, bright vibrant 
colors, the aroma of sacred herbs, stirring 
words, uplifting drums and songs, the Spirits of 
Crazy Horse and Leonard Peltier.

By now the world knows that Leonard Peltier has 
been falsely imprisoned for 33 years. The 
government’s case against him for the killings of 
two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 
1975 has so many holes in it, that were it to 
come to trial today, it would quickly collapse into cold bitter ashes.

Nelson Mandela and Bishop Nelson Mandela are just 
two of the luminaries and millions of others who 
have been calling for his immediate release.

The San Francisco vigil, one of many held around 
the globe, came to be through the efforts of 
American Indian Movement West (AIMWEST.info). 
Around the world people were uniting to bring a 
day of justice to Leonard Peltier, after over 30 
years of injustice for him, and over 500 for his people.

As noon approached, with skies lightening and 
hopes brightening, a prayer walk began around the 
federal fortress. Led by the spiritual leader, 
drumming and singing, people surrounded the sharp 
angled tower with everything that was missing 
from and wrong with its presence: community, 
caring, respect for all living things, 
consciousness of the connectedness of all, 
awareness of the hate and suffering the federal 
building represents and embodies.

After the prayer walk was completed, the circle 
continued inside the gathering place, the people 
brought together as one, the dead reservation 
space transformed into a living one of righteousness and resistance.

Then the word went out that Leonard Peltier’s 
parole hearing had gone on for over four hours, 
whereas a half hour is the usual time. He himself 
spoke at length. His lawyers were questioned for 
some time as well. There are new members of the 
parole board, Obama administration appointees.


All these were taken as positive signs. The 
parole board should make its decision within 
three weeks. Leonard Peltier has been waiting for 
33 years, his people for over 500.

Free Leonard Peltier!




Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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