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LPDCUpDates and Announcements!
Friday, October 11, 2002LPDC Update - Oct 10, 2002 1. Appeals hearing held in St. Paul 2. Oct 12 Events - Indigenous Peoples Day Dear Friends and Supporters, Leonard's case had a brief but compelling day in court on Tuesday, in St. Paul, MN, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The hearing was held in response to the appeal filed by Leonard's attorneys after the motion to reduce sentence was dismissed by a lower court. Attorneys Eric Seitz and Bruce Ellison represented Leonard. Long-time Peltier foe, US Attorney Lynn Crooks, came out of retirement to argue against Leonard. Each side had only 15 minutes to present their arguments (see courtroom sketches at http://www.freepeltier.org) . The Motion to Reduce Sentence seeks to change Leonard's sentence from two consecutive to two concurrent sentences. This change is justified as the original sentencing judge was denied the true facts of the case, since the FBI and the US Attorneys suppressed critical ballistics evidence that exculpated Leonard. While the narrow scope of this motion will likely, at best, result in Leonard still having a life sentence, despite his innocence, it will impact the calculations that the US Parole Commission performs when determining whether to grant parole, and will make it harder for them to continue to deny parole. Thus, it is a critical, careful step we must take in order to expose the government's denial of justice. It is significant that the Court even chose to hear the appeal, as this is not in any way guaranteed. The public presence in the Courtroom was powerful and overwhelmingly composed of Indigenous people, which the three-judge panel surely noticed. Outside the Warren Burger Federal Building, over 200 people rallied in support of Leonard. The media came out, with print, radio and TV crews present. (For a sample of the coverage, see the Minneapolis Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3353448.html ) The crowd was spirited, there were many banners and signs, and the singing and drumming that formed the core of the rally echoed loudly before the courthouse. We now wait for weeks or even months for the Court to announce its decision on the appeal. The court could return the motion to the lower court with instructions to act on it, or might even correct Leonard's sentence directly. We will advise you on how best we all can support the outcome that Leonard deserves. OCT 12 - INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY This Saturday, October 12th, dozens of demonstrations will be held all over the US in solidarity with actions in Mexico and Central America to protest the 510th anniversary of Columbus Day. Thousands of Indigenous activists and supporters, from Canada to Panama, will demand basic human rights for all native peoples and an end to free trade agreements that exploit native communities and their lands. They will also call for an end to the militarization that accompanies corporate globalization. Demonstrators will block roads and borders, and hold marches, cultural celebrations, rallies, and other direct actions. The continuing struggle to free Leonard Peltier will be central to many if not all of these demonstrations. Check out the detailed list on our website at http://www.freepeltier.org/iipd_events.htm - the list includes events at the Nevada Test Site/Western Shoshone Nation, in Denver, CO, Washington, DC, Chicago, Ithaca, NY, NYC, Portland and Eugene, OR, Burlington, VT, Minneapolis, MN, Winchester, KY Columbus, OH, Tempe, AZ, Boston, MA, Pleasant Hill, CA, San Francisco, CA, Berkeley, CA, Puerto Rico, British Columbia, at various locations along the US/Mexico Border, and in Central America, Southern Mexico, Brazil and Argentina While this array of actions and events is too long to list in an email, we encourage you to get involved - go to our website and locate an event near you. Bring people who might not otherwise attend. Whether or not there is an event near you, consider downloading our informational flyer and make copies of it to distribute on Oct 12th. We at the LPDC postponed the traditional annual Sept. 12th visibility/fundraising day held on Leonard's birthday to recognize the anniversary of 9-11. We now need to mobilize, starting on Oct 12th and working through the US Thanksgiving holiday, as a great opportunity to talk about Leonard's case, while so many people are focused on the lies and myths of Indigenous people and their relationship with the dominant culture. We will be launching our annual fund drive on October 12th, and hope that you can participate. Look for the next email for more details. Leonard will most likely spend Sat., Oct 12th in the inipi, or sweat lodge, the right for which Native American inmates had to fight. Saturdays are devoted to the sweat ceremony at Leavenworth, although prison officials sometimes deny them access to the practice. Leonard has asked us to relay to all who are working for his freedom, and especially for those who will be out taking action on the 12th, that he will be praying for you in the sweat ceremony in the prison yard at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Until Freedom Is Won! The New Leonard Peltier Justice Campaign Leonard Peltier Defense Committee PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044 785-842-5774 http://www.freepeltier.org Posted by Webmaster@AIMSupport.org 3:44 PM 
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