Supreme Court Rejects Peltier Appeal / WRITE NOW TO JUDICIARY

By John Catalinotto

April 23, 2004---The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the 10th Circuit's denial of Leonard Peltier's request to be considered for parole. The court did so even though the 10th Circuit recognized that the government indisputably engaged in misconduct in the prosecution of the American Indian Movement leader. Peltier's attorney, Barry Bachrach, called the decision "another pitiful failure of our justice system to correct undisputed government wrongs."

On March 2, Peltier, who is both a political prisoner and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, won the Peace & Freedom Party primary in California with nearly 58 percent of the vote. If the party's August convention follows through on this advisory vote, Peltier will be the PFP's presidential candidate in California.

Peltier has been in prison for over 28 years, since an incident on June 26, 1975, when two FBI agents were killed in a shootout at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, most likely in their own crossfire. Leonard Peltier and other members of the American Indian Movement had been invited by residents to come to the reservation to provide security. FBI agents and SWAT teams encircled the reservation and reportedly unleashed a firefight that also claimed the life of a Native man, Joe Stuntz Killsright.

Tens of millions of people, here and around the world, have signed petitions, marched, rallied and protested to demand Peltier's freedom. The courts and FBI officials now admit they have no idea who killed the agents. Yet Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier is still behind bars, convicted in their deaths, serving two consecutive life sentences.

Peltier has called for April 16-24 to be U.S. Political Prisoners Week and encourages people across the country to continue the struggle for human rights, including gathering in Philadelphia on April 24 to demand freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Peltier describes himself as a political prisoner who "was convicted without any credible evidence of guilt. I wasn't the first. I certainly am not the last. There will always be those in power who seek to squash dissent. Now, as before, exercise of our human rights can be a dangerous act. But remaining silent and doing nothing--these are the most dangerous acts of all.

"I send greetings to the prisoners of conscience throughout this land and urge all Americans to seek the truth--in their own communities and across the country. Open your minds and hearts. Listen and learn. Act. Stand for freedom and justice for all peoples of the earth."

For more information, see www.leonardpeltier.org

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Supreme Court Rejects Indian Activist Peltier's Appeal - Barry Bacharach responds!

Peltier Attorney Respond to the US Supreme Court Denial of Appeal

In yet another outrageous decision by the courts, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant certiorari to review the 10th Circuit's denial of Leonard's request to be considered for parole. The U.S. Supreme court did so in the face of the 10th Circuit's recognition that the government indisputably engaged in misconduct in the prosecution of Leonard. This is another pitiful failure of our justice system to correct undisputed government wrongs. Despite the supposed checks and balances ingrained in the constitution, it is clear that there are no checks and balances and this is nothing more than a concerted effort between the Courts, Congress, and the Executive Branch to trample on American Indian rights and to hide the outrageous misconduct of governmental agencies.

If in fact, I am wrong in this opinion, then Congress will immediately conduct an investigation into the FBI's misconduct at Pine Ridge and in Leonard's case, as we have recently requested of Congress. It is once again time to make our voices heard loudly and demand that our government accounts for its misdeeds; anything less means that we will all be subject to the Kafkaesque treatment suffered by Leonard.

Barry Bachrach, Esq

From The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee: We will not let Leonard's issues go away and further commentaries and strategies will be released within the next few days.

April 19, 2004

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

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WRITE NOW TO JUDICIARY

From: Boston Area Leonard Peltier Support

4-20-04

"There is no crueler tyranny than that which is exercised under cover of law, and with the colors of justice..." U.S. v Jannotti, 673 F.2d 578, 614 (3d Cir. 1982)

In light of the yesterday's denial by the Supreme Court of Leonard Peltier's appeal of parole and the response by Peltier attorney Barry Bachrach, we ask that supporters of justice for Leonard Peltier write immediately to the chair and ranking members of the Judiciary Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as your two senators and representative.

Please inform them that:

- The Supreme Court decision in denying Leonard's appeal

does not uphold justice according the to constitution and laws of this country as the decision was likely (since it came with no comment) based on information which has been proven erroneous.

- That in light of the facts, which are a matter of public record, some portion of which has been brought to their attention by the Peltier legal team last month in the position paper "Official Misconduct in Indian Country: The U.S. Department of Justice,"

( http://www.peltiersupport.org http://www.peltiersupport.org ) Peltier, a Nobel Peace Prize candidate, it is clear that he is yet to receive equal rights and justice under the law.

- Request hearings into the misuse not only of informants, but agent provocateurs against the American Indian Movement (AIM); the Bureau's role in the "Reign of Terror" at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from 1973-1976; Official misconduct against AIM in general, and in the case against Leonard Peltier in particular.

Please see:

http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome.html
http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome.html#Letters

Link for sample letter: http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome/SampleLetter.html http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome/SampleLetter.html

To look up your senators and rep:
http://www.house.gov
http://www.senate.gov