"To the People who struggle for their freedom,
I embrace you and send you my love and strength"
~LeonardPeltier..P.O.W.
Leonard Peltier is a Native American activist who has been
imprisoned since 1977 for the 1975 shoot-out between the FBI
and the American Indian Movement (AIM) in which two federal
agents and an Indian man were killed. Four years after his
incarceration, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit released documents which prove Leonard
Peltier's innocence and FBI's use of their infamous COINTELPRO program in their efforts to
"neutralize" members of the Movement . The release of an F.B.I. teletype reveals that F.B.I.
ballistics experts knew that the gun attributed to Peltier could not have fired the bullets that killed
the agents, and that this critical evidence was withheld from the defense at Peltier's trial. The
government concedes that they "do not know who killed the agents" and that there were no
eyewitnesses or direct evidence against Leonard Peltier. In 1985 the government changed its original
theory that Leonard Peltier killed the agents and moved that he aided and abetted the killer. The
Appellate Court has stated that there was a "clear abuse of the investigative process" which "cast
strong doubts on the government's case." Yet each of his four appeals have ended with Leonard
being denied justice and a new trial based on the merits and validity of his arguments rather than one
based on legal loopholes.
Why Leonard Peltier?
Leonard was a close associate of Dennis Banks (one of the founders of AIM) and showed signs of
potential leadership. ALL AIM leadership was targeted. The FBI wanted desperately to destroy the
Movement and force Native people into assimilating into the white culture and allow the government
control of their mineral (oil, uranium, gold) rich land. Peltier so concerned them that a memo was sent
out in which Peltier's occupation was described as: Manager of AIM. Not only was Peltier NOT the
manager of AIM (he was a mechanic), no such position even existed.
At this time Leonard sits in Leavenworth prison..stripped of his freedom and his rights as a 
human
being. He is suffering terribly from a problem with his jaw. He is unable to eat..unable to
close his mouth and is in constant pain. He is being denied medical treatment that has
been offered him free of charge by the Mayo Clinic even though it is his legal right to
have it. It has been noted by an independent physician that the type of radiation
treatments given to Leonard at Springfield under the auspices of the the Penal system are not
normally associated with treating his problem. So he must be allowed to seek independent medical
attention. Furthermore, he is being denied the right to practice his religion..and to lead others in
worship. They won't even allow him to have his drum.
This cannot be allowed to continue
For those of you that would like to directly contact Leonard..he may
receive letters, cards, paperback books
and/or postal money orders
Leonard Peltier-#89637-132
PO Box 1000
Leavenworth, KA 66048
Others Addresses to contact
Write, phone and fax the White House and Justice Department to
demand Leonard's freedom
