Thank you to the United American Indians of New England ( UAINE) from Leonard Peltier and the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
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TO: Leonard Peltier Supporters
On behalf of Leonard Peltier and the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, we
would like to thank the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) for
their continued support and solidarity. This year's National Day of
Mourning was dedicated to Leonard Peltier.
Since 1970, hundreds of other Native Americans from across the country and
their non-Native allies have been converging on Plymouth Harbor to let people
know that Thanksgiving is a "Day of Mourning" that marks the genocide
of thousands of Native Americans, the theft of Native Lands and the assault on
Native Cultures. On Thursday, November 23, 2006 despite the cold and rainy
weather, hundreds of people gathered and marched on Plymouth Harbor and joined
in solidarity as various tribal elders and members spoke about the hypocrisy of
the current U.S. government's attack against immigrants and spoke of the
importance of Unity among all Indigenous Peoples. Elder Bert Waters read the
following statement from Leonard Peltier:
Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, Friends and Supporters. It has been 36 years
now since the Day of Mourning was started. Some of you were here from the very
beginning. I remember the Northwest Washington State area; we had organized our
own Day of Mourning and solidarity. As I look back I see a lot of those
comrades are now gone and have passed on to a better world, than the one we
Native Peoples have been forced on since 1492. Yet, we cannot give up. We must
build upon our solidarity and overcome the genocide committed against our
people and those who still seek to shackle us. You have truly shown me strong
sister and brotherhood. I THANK YOU again, as I have over the past 36 years for
including me in this protest and for not forgetting me. I feel and see your
honest and full commitment of seeing me released.
THANK YOU!
In the spirit of Crazy Horse
Thank you very much
Leonard Peltier
Toni Zeidan, Co-director of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, gave an
update on Leonard's case and health. During her talk, Peltier, who is at
Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary, called Zeidan's cell phone and was able to
hear the gathered crowd shouting, "Free Leonard Peltier now!" at the
tops of their lungs.
Please click on the following addresses for articles on the Day of
Mourning:
http://www.workers.org/2006/us/dom-1207/
http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Nov2006/munro1106.html
Again, many thanks to Moonanum James, Co- Leader of UAINE, Mahtowin Munro,
Co-Leader of UAINE, and the many supporters and volunteers who helped to make
this such a great day and who have been working for years to free Leonard.
Thank you
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
11/06
