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LPDCUpDates and Announcements!
Thursday, February 03, 2005New VIP Members join the call for freedom for Leonard Peltier From LPDC International Five new "celebrities" signed the International Peltier Forum letter... Marilyn Manson - rock singer - USA --> see http://users.skynet.be/kola/vip369.htm Dita von Teese - model; burlesque performer - USA/Germany --> see http://users.skynet.be/kola/vip370.htm Sharon Osbourne - TV & music producer; founder of the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation; (and the wife of Ozzy Osbourne) - England --> see http://users.skynet.be/kola/vip371.htm Werner Schulz, MdB - member Bundestag - Germany --> see http://users.skynet.be/kola/vip367.htm IPRO (Indigenous Peoples Renaissance Organization) - South Africa --> see http://users.skynet.be/kola/vip368.htm The people of IPRO added the following letter to their IPF signature: From: "Thierry Alban Revert" To: Subject: add to the petition for Leonard Peltier Date: Sun, 5 Dec 2004 00:31:01 +0200 Today, we confirm that President Bush has declared the war on terrorism, and has motivated American people, through fear, to vote for a renewed pesidency, which has created the biggest ever debt in the world. When the American economy, through the power of the very few, over the very many, is claiming to be the most powerful nation in the world, it is in fact and actually the most indebted country in the world, ( USD 8.18 Trillion) It is obvious that, with Bush's position on terrorism, Leonard Peltier who has been branded a terrorist, on false grounds, will be kept inside, by the Bush Administration. We would like to remind you one important precedent, is that Nelson Mandela, was also arrested for terrorism, and after 27 years in jail, became the liberator and the savior of our Country: South Africa was saved by Nelson Mandela and his unabated support for freedom and for peace. So, who tells you that terrorists are all bad. During his state visit in 2003, in South Africa, President Bush had only one official request: it was to meet and have an interview with Nelson Mandela. The official reason was to pay homage to this great man. The unofficial reason, was to be taken on a photograph together with Nelson Mandela, to gain African American votes in the 2004's election. Who was the most important person, then? Nelson or GW? The former terrorist or the world cow boy? Well the story says that Nelson Mandela refused to meet Bush, and instead went to London, at the same time, to unveil a plaque in memoriam of Joe Slovo, one of his " terrorist" companion, in the struggle against apartheid, and the long road to freedom. Leonard Peltier is not the American Mandela. He is simply Leonard Peltier. This is a powerful statement. The greatest hope that Americans have to transform America into a decent place to live in peace, and no longer at war with most of the rest of the world is Leonard Peltier. So, we do support all attempts to liberate Leonard Peltier, and as soon as possible, because we don't have much time left on the planet, the way the petrol boys from Texas, are managing the world, through massive arms and weapon sales. We also recommend that, together with the liberation of Peltier and the beginning of the Peace Act, to replace the Patriot act, that all US arm and weaponry budgets, be allocated to the education and the restitution of land to indigenous people's of the world. We are a newly formed organization called: Indigenous People Renaissance Organization, and we are promoting a project of Khoe-San Renaissance village in the Cradle Of Humankind (a World heritage site) , and we shall promote the liberation of all our brothers and sisters from the native American nations, to regain their full rights and also their leaders like Leonard Peltier. Thierry Alban Revert Project manager IPRO village tar@planetac.co.za Posted by Webmaster@AIMSupport.org 1:20 AM  From: TACOMA LEONARD PELTIER SUPPORT GROUP P.O. BOX 5464 TACOMA, WA 98415-0464 Tacoma-lpsg@ojibwe.us bayou@blarg.net SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2005. TACOMA, WA 12TH ANNUAL NORTHWEST REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH LEONARD PELTIER MARCH AND RALLY FOR JUSTICE Greetings, We wish to first thank everyone who has helped out get the word out for our event, helped with the different parts of our event or sent us donations. This event is not just the work of the Tacoma LPSG, but rather it is an effort of the collective spirit of Leonard Peltier supporters of the Northwest. If you look down this message you will find new information on caravan/carpools that are now coming in from Portland, Olympia, Seattle and Bellingham. So if you live in any of those areas and need a ride or have room in your car for riders you have a place to hook-up with other people. The After Rally Potluck and Get Together still needs food and people to help. There is information about this below. We still need more people to video tape the event. You can still help this event by passing on this message to e-mail lists, organizations, groups, and to people you know. Thank you Tacoma LPSG "Imagine, if you would for a minute, living in a room the size of your bathroom. Imagine spending most of your life over the last three decades enclosed in such a place: three walls and bars. Imagine the feeling of constant confinement, walls closing in on you, and the continuous battle to suppress all thought about it. Imagine being there not because you are a criminal, a threat to society, but because you devoted your life to the well-being of your people. Imagine having to be cautious of every move you make, for eyes are forever on you, waiting for you to slip. Imagine knowing that your keepers wish you dead and have, in the past tried to assassinate you. Imagine living this life, imprisoned by a frame-up, a massive conspiracy, by the government of the United States of America. Imagine the life of Leonard Peltier." From "The Case of Leonard Peltier" By Pio Celestino and Arthur J. Miller 12TH ANNUAL NORTHWEST REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH LEONARD PELTIER MARCH AND RALLY FOR JUSTICE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2005. TACOMA, WA MARCH FOR JUSTICE: 12:00 NOON Portland Ave. Park (at Portland Ave and E. Fairbanks Ave. Take Portland Ave. exit off I-5 and head east) RALLY FOR JUSTICE: 1:00 PM U.S. Federal Court House, 1717 Pacific Ave. Program Harold Belmont: Elder, Native People's Alliance With Friends and Allies Dorothy Ackerman: Lakota Elder, Portland, OR Wolverine: Shuswap Elder Aztec Dancers Matilaja: Yu'Pik/Yakama Pete Sanchez: Ktunaxa (Kutenai), Drummer Jim Page: Folk Singer/Activist Michael One Road: AIM, Portland, OR Bill Simmons: International Indian Treaty Council Jeanette Bushnell: Anishinaabe Kerwin Hemlock: Drummer Russell Redner: AIM. Larry Mosqueda: Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace and Olympia CISPES. Kii yaa tuk: East Texas Choctaw, Wildcat Community Development Juan Jose Bocanegra: Every Worker's Movement Steve Hapy, Jr: Tacoma LPSG Arthur J. Miller: Tacoma LPSG NW AIM DRUM Leonard Peltier is an American Indian Movement Activist who was framed-up by the government after a firefight on the Pine Ridge Oglala Reservation that happened because of an illegal government operation to steal Oglala land for uranium mining. The head of the local FBI office at the time, Norman Zigrossi, defended the illegal actions by saying: "Indians are a conquered nation and the FBI is merely acting as a colonial police force" He went on to say, "When you're conquered, the people you're conquered by dictate your future." "I have no doubt whatsoever that the real motivation behind both Wounded Knee II and the Oglala firefight, and much of the turmoil throughout Indian Country since the early 1970s, was-and is-the mining companies." Leonard Peltier In 2003 the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals stated in their ruling, "Much of the government's behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and in its prosecution of Mr. Peltier is to be condemned. The government withheld evidence. It intimidated witnesses. These facts are not disputed." The Oglala People were never conquered and Leonard Peltier will not give up the fight for justice. In today's world it is even more important than ever to stand-up to political persecution. The last two years the City of Tacoma has tried to stop our march and last year the city tried to intimidate us with a massive show of police force. It was the support of many good people and a legal team that won us the right to march in Tacoma. Though our focus has been for 12 years to hold a peaceful march of solidarity with Leonard Peltier, we will not stop marching, we will not be intimidated and we demand the right to come out in public in support of Leonard Peltier without persecution. We ask you to join us at our Annual Regional Tacoma March and Rally in Solidarity with Leonard Peltier as we send the message, we will not give up, we will not surrender, we will continue to stand for justice for Leonard Peltier for how ever long it takes! This action is in support of the important legal efforts of Leonard's legal team (for more information of to: www.leonardpeltier.org ) In The Spirit Of Crazy House Steve Hapy, Jr Arthur J. Miller Tacoma LPSG AFTER RALLY POT LUCK MEAL AND GET TOGETHER: Around 4:00 pm. At the First United Methodist Church, 423 Martin Luther King Jr Way. From the rally go south up the hill to Martin Luther King Jr Way and turn right. The church is right next to a large hospital. The meal and gathering is hosted in support of Leonard by the local Tacoma group People for Peace, Justice and Healing. Speakers and music will continue at the church. HELP IS NEEDED! We need people to bring food to be picked up at 11:30 am at the starting point of the rally or by 12 noon at the rally site. Not only do we need pot luck food of different types, but we need green salads, fry bread, jams, and juices. We need people to help with the cooking and set-up, please be at the church at 2:00 pm. We need people to help with the clean-up, we will ask for volunteers at the meal. We also need a few people to help with the pick up of food at the march starting point and rally site. VOLUNTEERS: If you have any questions or need to contact the host group please send an e-mail to: Karen at: karenh@harbornet.com. We also need volunteers to pick up food at the park and the rally site. Thank you. CARAVAN/CARPOOLS OLYMPIA There will be carpools leaving from the parking lot at Harrison and Division at 10:30. SEATTLE Inbal of Seattle is willing to help provide rides to the march and rally. If you need a ride or you have room in your car for others please contact Inbal at: innbaal@hotmail.com or call 850-4147. PORTLAND Rendezvous point for folks with cars and folks who need rides at the PCC Cascade campus main parking lot (on the East side of Albine St., just south of Killingsworth...meet up at 9:30 am Sat the 5th). BELLINGHAM A Bellingham caravan/car pool to the march in Tacoma will be meeting at Fairhaven College parking lot at 9am, and leaving at 9:30am. Directions: When approaching Bellingham from the north or south on Interstate 5, take Exit #252, marked Samish Way and W.W.U. Turn west onto Samish Way and follow the signs to Bill McDonald Parkway. At South College Drive, take a right. Fairhaven College and its gravel parking lot will be on the right. BUSES SEATTLE: Take the Sound Transit bus # 594 at 10:30 am at 9th &Stewart in Seattle. Get off at Tacoma Dome Station. Either walk a few blocks north on Puyallup Ave to Portland Ave then up to Portland Ave Park or take the Portland Ave bus at 11:47 and get off at the park. Going back to Seattle: Take the street car which passes right by the rally site, or walk a few blocks down the hill from the pot luck to Commerce St. and 10th and catch the #594 bus back to Seattle. Bus leaves every hour. OLYMPIA: Catch the northbound Express to Tacoma from Olympia Transit Center. PARKING If you get to the park early we will organize cars being moved up close to the rally site. You could also park at the Tacoma Dome Station and catch a bus. There is also parking at the park and we will try to find drivers to take people back to the park after the rally. VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHS Though the purpose of the Annual Tacoma Marches for 12 years has been to keep Leonard's case out in the public, to build support for Leonard and to educate people on Leonard's case and other Native issues going on, we will not be intimidated by the City of Tacoma and their police force into not marching for Leonard. The City of Tacoma has tried to stop our marches and when we stood up to them and demanded our right to march for Leonard Peltier, last year they pulled out a massive police force that was nothing more than a political statement against our right to march. Police on bikes tried to provoke a conflicts with marchers, including make racist remarks to Native marchers. Our security team handled the situation very well and the provocateurs were unsuccessful. Our marches includes people of all ages from Elders to children and people in wheelchairs. We work hard to keep our marches open to all people and to keep them safe. Our all-Native security team has done a great job at that over the years. Those people who have video or camera equipment can help the security team by being in different parts of the march and record what takes place. Also, this will help our legal team should something take place. And we continue to pressure the City of Tacoma for out right to march and having video and photos helps us in that effort. Video of our marches and rallies gets send to other people in North America and is used to help build support in their areas. Photos are also sent to Leonard. So if you can help us please do and send copies of all video and photos to the Tacoma LPSG. Thank you. FANANCIAL DONATIONS ARE GREATLY NEEDED: In order to raise money for printing fliers, posters, our mailings and other expenses we have had to borrow money. Please send donations to: Tacoma LPSG, P.O. Box 5464, Tacoma, WA 98415-0464 (make checks out to: Tacoma Leonard Peltier Support Group) Posted by Webmaster@AIMSupport.org 10:32 AM
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