Activists Around Country Fast as Leonard Peltier Endures His 30th Year in Prison

For immediate release: October 6, 2005

For more information:
Ted Glick, 973-338-5398,
Toni Zeidan,LPDC 915-533-6655

As their 12 day fast reaches its halfway point, a group of 10 activists called upon the Federal Bureau of Prisons to expedite the release of Native American political prisoner, writer and artist Leonard Peltier, currently serving time in Lewisburg Federal Prison.

In 1976 Peltier was unjustly convicted before an all-white jury in North Dakota of the killing of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on June 26, 1975. On October 15, 1985 the government admitted in open court that they did not have proof of who killed their agents. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has since said that "the prosecution of Mr.Peltier is to be condemned; they [the prosecution]
withheld evidence and coerced testimony. These facts are undisputed."

The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and the People's Fast for Justice have organized this year's fast. Each year since 1992 this action has taken place in October. Some of those participating in this year's fast have been part of it each year since 1992.

Among the fasters are Wilson Riles, former city councilperson and mayoral candidate in Oakland, Ca.,Esperanza Martell, long-time Puerto Rican/Taina human rights activist, Patricia St. Onge, a member of the Haudenosaunee tribe, and Toni Zeidan, Liaison from the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. Others participating in the fast include Rainbow Casey, Ted Glick, Ben Manski, Peg Rapp, Red Tree Woman, and Diane Thomas. Participants are from the states of California, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Wisconsin.

During the fast no solid food is being eaten. Some are fasting on water only, others on liquids. The fast will end on October 12th, which for a growing number of people in the United States is Indigenous Peoples Day.