[diggers350] Leonard Peltier - UK November action

[TowersC at aol.com]

>From Charles Towers, e-mail:  towersc at aol.com

Dear Friends,

The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee in Kansas is organising an intensive 
campaign for the ‘November Leonard Peltier Freedom Month’.  This will 
include a tipi
encampment outside the White House, and daily spiritual and cultural events in
Washington, DC.  November has been declared Native American Heritage Month by
President Clinton, and we plan to hold him to his word.  Traditionally, 
Clemency
Petitions are granted by the President at the end of each year, and obviously 
the
Millennium makes this year-end a more significant date.  

Moreover, the Parole Board could reconsider Leonard’s parole situation in the 
early
spring.  We know Clinton is frightened of making the decision about clemency. 
 If we
push hard enough, he will rush to the Parole Board to give Leonard parole to 
get
himself and Gore off the hook during an election year.  (The Parole Board 
unfairly
denied parole at the last hearing, as the prosecutor had already admitted in 
open court that no one knew who had committed the murders, but Leonard was 
denied parole on the grounds that he was a “cold-blooded killer”: obviously 
a contradiction.)  

November and December are an extremely important time for us to make a strong
push for Leonard’s freedom. We need your continued support and help over the 
next
few weeks, and we can make a significant contribution from this country in
several ways.


1.  TELEPHONE AND LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN

We are asking each and every one of you to telephone and write to the White
House once a week for the duration of November and December.

Throughout the years, many of us have become disillusioned with making phone 
calls
and writing letters.  Many people think that they are a wasted effort, 
without any real
impact.  However, recent experiences have proved to the contrary.  If we all 
act in a
unified and organised way, these calls are in fact a very powerful grassroots 
organising tool.  For example, if a few people call the White House comments 
line on a given day with diverse messages, there probably will not be much 
impact.  However, if 30 people call on the same day with the same message, a 
note is sent to President Clinton that the matter is of public interest.  If 
we can get 100 calls going each day with the same messages, people will 
really sit up and pay attention. 

WHEN DO WE CALL?  The LPDC are co-ordinating efforts world-wide, and they have
asked that supporters in the UK, along with France and the Central Region of 
the US,
should make their calls each Wednesday.  Other countries and regions are 
covering
other days.  Obviously, if you miss Wednesday, it is better to phone another 
day than not at all.  I believe that the BT cheap rate to the US starts at 8 
p.m., which is 3 p.m. in Washington, so our evening is a good time to ring.  

WHO DO WE CALL?  The most important call is to the White House comments line,
001-202-456-1111.  Don't dial any of the numbers they give you, and you will 
get
through either to a receptionist or voice-mail (an answering-machine).  

The LPDC are also asking US supporters to call their Senators and 
Representatives. 
The switchboard number for all Congressional offices in Washington DC is
001-202-224-3121.  If you wish to leave a message for any member of Congress, 
this
is the number to use; but at this time we in the UK have no particular 
instructions.

WHAT SHOULD WE SAY?  It is important to keep the message short and simple and 
just
make a few basic points.  It is not at all necessary to know all the details. 
 It is just
important to call with the same message.  The key points to make are these: 

a.  We are calling to demand that Leonard Peltier be freed immediately.  He 
has
been imprisoned for 23 years for a crime everyone knows he did not commit, 
and he is now 55 years of age, and in deteriorating health.  He is overdue 
for parole.  We want him released at once.  

b.  The FBI carried out many abuses against minority leaders throughout the 
1960’s
and the 1970’s right up until Waco.  (Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott 
recently said
that renewed congressional inquiries into Waco should expand to other 
instances in
which Justice Department officials may have withheld information about 
government
conduct.)  Leonard Peltier is one of the victims of FBI misconduct and abuse 
of
power.  The FBI agents forced a witness to sign a false affidavit and 
concealed
important ballistic information from the defence at trial that would have 
showed Peltier
was innocent.  Even the prosecutor has admitted they do not know and could not
prove who killed their agents.  

c.  This case is not about being soft on crime or terrorism.  It is about 
being tough on
corruption and obstruction of justice.  

d.  We want to know what both Mr. Gore and Mr. Clinton plan to do about this. 
Time is running out for Leonard Peltier.  

Try to get friends together who are serious about helping you.  Make sure 
everyone
gets a copy of the basic fact summary about Leonard’s case.  No one needs to 
know
the details inside out, but people are more confident if they know a bit 
about the story, and it is a good way to do public education as well.  Make 
sure they also receive these instructions, about who to call, and the most 
important points to mention.

WE NEED FEEDBACK.  The receptionists at the White House will usually sound 
bored or
formal, but this may change as the calls pour in, and some of them may begin 
to chat with the callers.  You may also get a voice mail, and that is fine - 
you do not need to enter a debate with the comments office.  What matters is 
that they have to keep track of how many calls are coming in, and they have 
to send a message upstairs every night that there is a matter of serious 
public interest, i.e. Leonard’s case.  If you can, please call me back on 
01995-603866 and let me know how the call went.  What did the people at the 
White House comment line say, and how did they react?  This helps us gauge 
how much they are feeling the pressure.  More importantly, every so often, a 
receptionist will talk a little about the case and even ask questions.  This 
helps us find out what the other side is saying.  The feedback is really 
helpful to the LPDC, and I will e-mail any reaction over to them.  

WHO DO WE WRITE TO?  Experience has shown that e-mail and form letters have 
little
effect, because everyone knows that it is too easy to send multiple copies.  
Faxes are better, and best of all are short hand-written letters.  Please 
would you send regular notes from now until the end of the year to:  

    President William J Clinton
    The White House
    1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
    Washington DC 20500
    USA

    or fax:  001-202-456-2461


 2.  DEMONSTRATION AT THE US EMBASSY, LONDON

There will be a peaceful demonstration at the Embassy in Grosvenor Square on 
the day after Thanksgiving Day, Friday 26 November.  We shall display 
banners, play songs
for Leonard and recordings of his voice, hear readings from his book, and 
exchange
news and information.  Supporters will be present from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 
we shall
welcome anyone who can drop by during that time.  I appreciate that weekdays 
are
difficult/impossible for most people, but we have been specifically asked by 
the
Defense Committee to stage a picket during the week ‘because there probably 
won't be anybody at home weekends’.  Likewise the Embassy is closed on 
Thanksgiving Day itself.

Thanksgiving Day is a poignant time for all Native Americans.  According to 
historical
legend, the first Thanksgiving was held by the pilgrims to give thanks to God 
for their
very survival in North America.  They had been saved from starvation by 
kindly Native
Americans who taught them about local crops and wildlife.  The pilgrims, in 
turn,
thanked the Lord and exterminated the tribes.  Leonard Peltier is but one 
more of the
most recent victims.  As people this year sit down to their feasts, 
surrounded by friends and family, we want them to think carefully about the 
treatment of all Native
Americans, and in particular about Leonard Peltier, alone in his prison cell. 

3.  PLEASE RAISE FUNDS FOR THE LPDC

The LPDC are in urgent need of funding for the November campaign.  They are
making a huge effort this month, and it could break them financially.  If you 
are able,
please make a contribution - no matter how small, it all helps.  You can send 
cash or
international bankers drafts direct to the LPDC, PO Box 583, Lawrence, Kansas
66044, USA; or UK cheques can be sent to me if you e-mail for my address.  
All funds collected in a dedicated Peltier account will be changed into 
dollars and sent directly to the LPDC at the end of the month.  


LEONARD SENDS THIS MESSAGE TO ALL HIS FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS:

My Brothers and Sisters,

It is hard for me to believe that the year 2000 is so quickly approaching us. 
 As I sit in this cell and think about my grandchildren who are growing up so 
fast, my friends who have passed on, and the many years of my life that have 
been stolen from
me, I remind myself of the attention my own suffering has brought to the 
realities of Indigenous Peoples everywhere.  I know that my own persecution 
has become a symbol of the persecution all of our people face everyday.  

But, I have not given up hope for freedom.  Today I am asking you to stand up 
and represent me and everything I am so proud of, the dignity, spirituality, 
and pride of the First Nations Peoples of the world.  

My dream is to continue what the Trail of Broken Treaties started; an event 
that will have a historical and lasting effect in the minds and consciousness 
of the public.  We are hoping to carry out such an event this November in 
Washington DC.  November will be a critical time for my freedom campaign.  

This December will be Clinton’s last likely chance to grant me Executive 
Clemency.  My defense team will have been steadily lobbying Congress to 
support clemency for two months prior to the event.  Therefore, November will 
be an important time for a strong show of public support.  The irony is that 
at the same time, "Native American Heritage Month" and the Thanksgiving 
holiday will be occurring and will be bringing additional attention of Native 
Americans into the public, making November an important month to bring real 
issues of Indigenous Peoples of the U.S. into the
limelight of the media.  

I believe that we can accomplish a successful campaign to do this if we all 
pull our resources together.  I can visualize all the colors of our Native 
Nations’ flags flying high around a culturally brilliant and 
attention-attracting event in front of the White House this Fall.  The 
thought of different Indigenous Nations coming together in unity to support 
sovereignty, human rights, dignity, cultural preservation, and my freedom, 
warms my heart.  Please read the proposal attached to find out more about our 
plans and how you can help. Thank you.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier


It is absolutely vital that we put all of our efforts together and make a 
strong attempt
to free Leonard now, before his health further deteriorates, before the 
current
momentum is lost, before Clinton leaves office, and before another year of 
Leonard’s
life is stolen away from him, his people and his family.  

Please make a serious commitment in whatever way you can to help free Leonard
Peltier before the year 2000.

Thank you.  

With all good wishes,

Charles.