Officials of The Assembly of First Nations And National Congress of American Indians to Meet with Leonard to strategize for his Release
Sat, 15 Jan 2000
Dear Leonard Peltier Supporters,
Below is a press advisory for a very important support building mission which will be carried out by top officials of the Assembly of First Nations and National Congress of American Indians this Thursday, January 20. The delegation will meet with Leonard in prison to strategize for his release. Please fax it to your local media contacts. We will send out a press release Thursday afternoon to let you and the media know how the visit went.
We hope everyone’s organizing plans for February 6, which marks Leonard’s 24th year in prison, are going well. This year the LPDC has proposed that supporters pull together organizing meetings in order to broaden our bases of support and build coalitions. We also proposed that the focus be on the upcoming parole hearing, which will likely be in May, not March as we had thought. In order to use the February 6 events to maximize support for the upcoming parole review hearing, it is important to build coalitions and make numerous contacts with people and organizations who will be able to organize phone banks, letter writing campaigns, and visit Congresspeople.
We will need numerous letters from unions, Native Nations, churches, human rights organizations, etc. on letter head in support of Leonard’s release by parole to be sent to the LPDC. Attorney Jennifer Harbury has prepared all sample letters and phone banking instructions in this regard and we are just waiting for the parole attorneys’ okay before we send them out. You will receive them very soon. Meanwhile, please let us know where your meetings will be held, who the contact person is, and any other important details because we are receiving numerous requests as to what is going on in what area. If you are already organizing a march or vigil for February 6th, that is good, but please try put some time aside for a strategizing session with the participants if possible. Thank you for all of your work and here is the press advisory mentioned earlier.
----The LPDC
Delegation of Leading Tribal Officials from Canada and U.S Will Investigate the Situation of Native American, Leonard Peltier In Prison
Contact: The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Gina Chiala, LPDC campaign co-coordinator – 785-842-5774
What: Press Conference with top officials of the Assembly of First Nations of Canada and the National Congress of American Indians of the US
When: January 20, 2000 at 2:00pm
Where: Across the street from the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary
Who: Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Ernie Stevens, top official of the National Congress of the American Indians, Jean Day, spokesperson of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and survivor of the 1975 Oglala shoot out aftermath, and Jennifer Harbury, attorney and renowned human rights activist.
Why: Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Canada, his delegation, and Ernie Stevens of the National Congress of American Indians of the U.S. will be meeting with Leonard Peltier in prison. The two groups are the largest Native American Organizations in North America, representing the majority of tribes on the continent and they are insisting that President Clinton release Leonard Peltier through a grant of Executive Clemency. They will be meeting with Leonard Peltier in prison to strategize methods for his release and will afterward address the press. Leonard Peltier was convicted of murdering two FBI agents in 1977 in one of the most controversial trials of the century. When faced with previously withheld evidence on appeal casting serious doubt on Mr. Peltier’s guilt, the US prosecutor established on record that he in fact could not prove who actually shot the agents. Amnesty International considers Mr. Peltier to be a political prisoner who should be "immediately and unconditionally released."
Call the White House Comments Line Today
Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774
www.freepeltier.org