Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee

2010-07-25T16:34:00.006-05:00

Visit us often at http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/ and follow us on:

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Special Attraction: Wind Chases the Sun

2010-07-25T12:42:00.006-05:00

Available for $20.00 (USD) plus S&H
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X
Funds from the sale of this shirt go to support the Preston Randolph production, "Wind Chases the Sun," a new documentary about Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier.
For more information, visit the film store at http://www.windchasesthesun.com/.

Reading List

Have You Thought of Leonard Peltier Lately? by Harvey Arden
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthiessen
Prison Writings: My Life Is My Sun Dance by Leonard Peltier
The Trial of Leonard Peltier by Jim Messerschmidt

Growing Support for Leonard Peltier

2010-07-23T07:02:00.008-05:00

Please join us in welcoming our newest LP-DOC Chapter: Center Ossipee, NH, USA. Coordinated by Lynn Clarke, the chapter will engage in fundraising, event planning and management, and public education to raise awareness of the Peltier case. Already, Lynn is planning an event that will feature the art of Leonard Peltier. The Center Ossipee chapter also has established a Web presence to promote activities on Leonard's behalf in New Hampshire and the surrounding region.

LPDOC Chapter - Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, USA
Web: http://freepeltiernh.webs.com/
E-mail: freepeltierNH@gmail.com.

We invite others of you to partner with us to formulate strategies, devise fundraising ideas, and build public support. Your participation is imperative to our survival and Leonard's freedom. We are available to assist you with registration and address your chapter's needs. Please contact us with any questions or concerns: lpsupport@whoisleonardpeltier.info.

Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth

2010-07-23T06:54:00.002-05:00

Proposed Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth

Preamble

We, the peoples and nations of Earth:

considering that we are all part of Mother Earth, an indivisible, living community of interrelated and interdependent beings with a common destiny;

gratefully acknowledging that Mother Earth is the source of life, nourishment and learning and provides everything we need to live well;

recognizing that the capitalist system and all forms of depredation, exploitation, abuse and contamination have caused great destruction, degradation and disruption of Mother Earth, putting life as we know it today at risk through phenomena such as climate change;

convinced that in an interdependent living community it is not possible to recognize the rights of only human beings without causing an imbalance within Mother Earth;

affirming that to guarantee human rights it is necessary to recognize and defend the rights of Mother Earth and all beings in her and that there are existing cultures, practices and laws that do so;

conscious of the urgency of taking decisive, collective action to transform structures and systems that cause climate change and other threats to Mother Earth;

proclaim this Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth, and call on the General Assembly of the United Nation to adopt it, as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations of the world, and to the end that every individual and institution takes responsibility for promoting through teaching, education, and consciousness raising, respect for the rights recognized in this Declaration and ensure through prompt and progressive measures and mechanisms, national and international, their universal and effective recognition and observance among all peoples and States in the world.

Article 1. Mother Earth

(1) Mother Earth is a living being.

(2) Mother Earth is a unique, indivisible, self-regulating community of interrelated beings that sustains, contains and reproduces all beings.

(3) Each being is defined by its relationships as an integral part of Mother Earth.

(4) The inherent rights of Mother Earth are inalienable in that they arise from the same source as existence.

(5) Mother Earth and all beings are entitled to all the inherent rights recognized in this Declaration without distinction of any kind, such as may be made between organic and inorganic beings, species, origin, use to human beings, or any other status.

(6) Just as human beings have human rights, all other beings also have rights which are specific to their species or kind and appropriate for their role and function within the communities within which they exist.

(7) The rights of each being are limited by the rights of other beings and any conflict between their rights must be resolved in a way that maintains the integrity, balance and health of Mother Earth.

Article 2. Inherent Rights of Mother Earth

(1) Mother Earth and all beings of which she is composed have the following inherent rights:

(a) the right to life and to exist;
(b) the right to be respected;
(c) the right to regenerate its bio-capacity and to continue its vital cycles and processes free from human disruptions;
(d) the right to maintain its identity and integrity as a distinct, self-regulating and interrelated being;
(e) the right to water as a source of life;
(f) the right to clean air;
(g) the right to integral health;
(h) the right to be free from contamination, pollution and toxic or radioactive waste;
(i) the right to not have its genetic structure modified or disrupted in a manner that threatens it integrity or vital and healthy functioning;
(j) the right to full and prompt restoration the violation of the rights recognized in this Declaration caused by human activities;

(2) Each being has the right to a place and to play its role in Mother Earth for her harmonious functioning.

3) Every being has the right to wellbeing and to live free from torture or cruel treatment by human beings.

Article 3. Obligations of human beings to Mother Earth

(1) Every human being is responsible for respecting and living in harmony with Mother Earth.

(2) Human beings, all States, and all public and private institutions must:

(a) act in accordance with the rights and obligations recognized in this Declaration;
(b) recognize and promote the full implementation and enforcement of the rights and obligations recognized in this Declaration;
(c) promote and participate in learning, analysis, interpretation and communication about how to live in harmony with Mother Earth in accordance with this Declaration;
(d) ensure that the pursuit of human wellbeing contributes to the wellbeing of Mother Earth, now and in the future;
(e) establish and apply effective norms and laws for the defence, protection and conservation of the rights of Mother Earth;
(f) respect, protect, conserve and where necessary, restore the integrity, of the vital ecological cycles, processes and balances of Mother Earth;
(g) guarantee that the damages caused by human violations of the inherent rights recognized in this Declaration are rectified and that those responsible are held accountable for restoring the integrity and health of Mother Earth;
(h) empower human beings and institutions to defend the rights of Mother Earth and of all beings;
(i) establish precautionary and restrictive measures to prevent human activities from causing species extinction, the destruction of ecosystems or the disruption of ecological cycles;
(j) guarantee peace and eliminate nuclear, chemical and biological weapons;
(k) promote and support practices of respect for Mother Earth and all beings, in accordance with their own cultures, traditions and customs;
(l) promote economic systems that are in harmony with Mother Earth and in accordance with the rights recognized in this Declaration.

Article 4. Definitions

(1) The term “being” includes ecosystems, natural communities, species and all other natural entities which exist as part of Mother Earth.

(2) Nothing in this Declaration restricts the recognition of other inherent rights of all beings or specified beings.

Adopted by the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth on April 22, 2010, in Bolivia - Updated May 12, 2010

Communicating with Members of Congress

2010-07-18T11:19:00.001-05:00

Call for Videos: Citizens Tell Their Story of Human Rights Abuses in the U.S.

2010-07-15T18:13:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 14, 2010

Media Contact: testify@ushrnetwork.org

Call for Videos: Citizens tell their Story of Human Rights Abuses in the U.S.

Nationwide, United States of America: You now have a chance to speak at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Through the Testify! Project you can submit 30 second to 2 minute video testimony on human rights violations in your community. Selected submissions will be played for UN officials during preparation for the first ever UN review of the US Government’s entire human rights record, called the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

WHAT: The Testify! Project documents human rights violations in the United States using short videos and 1 page written testimonies. These videos and testimonies are an important way to explain to the US Government and representatives from the rest of the world whether the U.S. is complying with its human rights obligations and how it can improve.

Submissions should tell a story about an injustice occurring in your area and suggest a solution to the US government. Submissions can focus on virtually any social justice issue, including but not limited to: labor rights; women's rights; immigrant rights; access to necessities like food, housing, education, health care; discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or identity; environmental (in)justice; racial profiling; censorship; and any other rights mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or other key human rights documents.

WHERE: This online contest is centered on www.TestifyProject.com. Videos can be uploaded directly to the YouTube Group at:

http://www.youtube.com/group/testifytotheun.

WHEN: A compilation of submitted videos will play in Geneva, Switzerland at the UN in September and again right before the U.S. government is reviewed as part of the UPR on November 5th, 2010. Finalist videos will be shown in their entirety. Each deadline will have one winner, receiving the following prizes:

1) To qualify to join a US Human Rights Network delegation to Geneva to present your story to UN delegates in-person, submit your video on or before August 20th at 11:59 pm.
2) To qualify for a new Flip Camera, to continue your video activism, submit your video by October 8th at 11:59 PM EST.

WHY: For the very first time, the United States faces a review of its entire human rights by other countries as part of the UPR. This new review process, developed in 2006, reviews every country in the world by the same standards. The United States government will have to answer questions from other countries about how well the US follows the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Charter, and international human rights treaties. You can read some basic facts about the Universal Periodic Review at www.ushrnetwork.org/campaign_upr & www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/upr/pages/BasifFacts.aspx.

To be sure that the questions asked and recommendations made reflect what is happening here in the United States, we need you to tell your story. Individuals and non-profit organizations from the U.S. will share your stories at an event at the UN in Geneva this September to influence the questions that are part of the November review. Testify! Project submissions will show these delegates what violations we are facing in the United States.

Please see the attached flyer for this project, with more details and sample videos at www.testifyproject.com.

Fast 4 Freedom in San Francisco on August 6

2010-07-11T09:07:00.001-05:00

FAST 4 FREEDOM IN SAN FRANCISCO AUGUST 6TH - SAVE THE DATE! SPREAD THE WORD!
"Because so many are starving for FREEDOM" (from the call by family members of prisoners)

Fast 4 Freedom is a day of fasting and solidarity actions on Friday, August 6th initiated by family members and loved ones of prisoners locked up across California.

The Bay Area CURB Alliance will be sponsoring a fast and rally from 12 noon-1:00 pm at the State Building in San Francisco where Mark Leno, Senate Public Safety Committee, Tom Ammiano, Assembly Public Safety Committee and Fiona Ma, Assemblywoman from San Francisco, all have their local offices. (More details to follow).

We will be spreading awareness about the many extreme injustices currently faced by prisoners, their families and their communities.

Our demands include:

End Three Strikes
Reduce the Prison Population NOW
Release Prisoners Eligible for Parole
Release Sick, Aged and Terminally Ill prisoners
Family Visits for All Prisoners
End the Death Penalty
Education Not Incarceration
Stop All New Prison Construction including New "Mental Health" Cages being built in Chino and Vacaville

We want to note that August 6th is the day that Johannes Meserle is sentenced for the killing of Oscar Grant and it's also the 65th Anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima!

JOIN US ON TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE ON THIS IMPORTANT DATE!

CURB ALLIANCE (Member organizations include Critical Resistance, All of Us Or None, Families to Amend California's Three Strikes, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Youth Justice Coalition, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, American Friends Service Committee and many more....)

Anti-Prison People’s Movement Assembly Resolution

2010-07-11T08:51:00.003-05:00

Anti-Prison People’s Movement Assembly
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
US Social Forum 2010, Detroit, MI

RESOLUTION

The problem: The United States is a prison empire, founded on the legacy of slavery, which uses racist mass incarceration, widespread criminalization, torture and the targeting of political dissidents to try to solve its fundamental economic and social problems. It locks up more people than any other country on the planet. The prison system is a central node in an apparatus of state repression; it threatens our communities and weakens our resistance and movements for justice. Repression is a tool used to maintain state power, and the prison population represents the most oppressed sectors of society: people of color, the poor, First Nations communities, immigrant communities, working class women, queer and transgender people, and organizers from many communities.

Because we share a vision of justice and solidarity against confinement, control, and all forms of political repression, the prison industrial complex must be abolished. We envision a movement and a society free of racism, Islamophobia, sexism and homophobia.

The work to dismantle the prison industrial complex and build stronger communities includes:

• Supporting the efforts of diverse anti-prison organizations as part of a shared movement against repression in all its forms, including political, racial, gender, sexual, economic, disability and age, legal status, HIV status, national origin, immigration status, and alleged gang affiliation;

• Fighting for the full civil and human rights of currently and formerly incarcerated people and affirming the rights of currently and formerly incarcerated people to speak in their own voice on all matters pertinent to their existence and well-being;

• Eliminating the stigma that inhibits currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones from speaking out;

• Supporting leadership and leadership development of currently and formerly incarcerated people, and ending all forms of discrimination based on legal status for formerly incarcerated people;

• Organizing for the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of war from grand juries, jail, detention, trial or prison;

• Demanding the immediate end to the death penalty, life without parole, solitary confinement, mandatory minimums, the incarceration of youth in adult facilities, behavior modification/communication management units, all forms of torture, the war on drugs and the criminalization of youth, immigrants and gender nonconforming people;

• Promoting physical, mental and emotional health and healing inside and outside of prisons, including humane models of and access to health care and substance abuse treatment that do not expand the prison industrial complex;

• Opposing all new jails, prisons, juvenile or immigrant detention facilities and supporting methods to immediately reduce the current prison population, including sentencing and parole reform, and eliminating prisons for profit;

• Challenging the institutions that prop up the prison, including the police, military, ICE, governmental legislatures, and other forms of colonial rule;

• Creating community-based models of restorative and transformative justice in the present. Working for a world where violence and captivity are taboo, and where communities are capable of responding to harm in ways that support the self-determination and dignity of all people.

To realize these visions and goals, we commit ourselves to the following actions. We ask participants at the 2010 US Social Forum to consider participating in or endorsing these actions in solidarity:

• We resolve to hold coordinated local days of action for Juvenile Justice during the week of December 6, 2010; against the prison industrial complex on International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010; and in solidarity with other movements and days of action against criminalization and confinement;

• We resolve to support the call by groups led by formerly incarcerated people to hold a national strategy session, led by and for formerly incarcerated people, within two years;

• We resolve to support reunification of families torn apart by the prison industrial complex, including by supporting the full repeal of the federal Adoption & Safe Families Act;

• We call for a paradigm shift in language, so that our language reflects our objectives for full human and civil rights for all people. Specifically, we commit ourselves, and ask that people and organizations do the same, to not refer to people with convictions as “offenders” or “ex-offenders,” but rather as “formerly incarcerated people.” We reject the logic of abandonment that distinguishes between “violent” and “nonviolent” people, and we call on organizations to struggle for all people regardless of the nature of their crime;

• We commit to supporting economic development opportunities for people before and after incarceration, and sustainable alternatives for communities that currently depend on prisons for their sustenance;

• We call on organizations in all social movements to review their hiring process, bylaws, and internal culture to determine if there are any barriers to full employment or inclusion of people with convictions;

• We commit ourselves to developing communication tools that allow us to share victories, strategies, lessons and stories, and ask allied movements to support this process;

• We ask that this Resolution from the Anti-Prison PMA be submitted to the World Social Forum in Dakar as part of a desire to engage in international dialogue about ending the global prison industrial complex.

We call on others in the United States, and around the world, to join us in these actions to advance our shared visions. Another World is Possible, Another U.S. is Necessary!

Summary of Indigenous Sovereignty PMA, US Social Forum 2010

2010-07-11T08:48:00.002-05:00

Peoples Movement Assembly: Indigenous Sovereignty
US Social Forum 2010, Detroit, MI

Summary

As older brothers and sisters of this land, we do not want another U.S.; but the return of our Ancestral homelands and the right to self-determination. We want others to understand our unique history as the first recipients of systematic oppression & institutional racism in this hemisphere, to understand the colonization of our homelands and the exploitation of the natural resources of Turtle Island. In order to work together, we need non-Indigenous entities to become educated on our history and issues from our perspectives, to RESPECT and HONOR our identity, spirituality, traditional ceremonies and related protocol. We ask that together we work toward the well-being of our communities, our children, future generations, other life forms, the plant and animal nations and Sacred Sites. We want others, to RESPECT and HONOR our expertise in all areas of this land from North to South, and that of Indigenous peoples respectively on other continents. We want to see more representation of Indigenous peoples in the USSF planning process and more Indigenous participation. We want an opening plenary at the next USSF to set the context of our struggles from our perspectives. We will take the lead on our own issues as decision makers and we ask for support on our work in Environmental, Social, and Economic Justice dealing with issues of: energy development (specifically: TARSANDS, coal, uranium, gold, gas & oil, and other extractive industries); green jobs; disparities due to income, environment, and substance abuse; the banning of ethnic studies programs; preservation of Indigenous languages and life-ways; funding for health-care; imposed political borders and immigration issues; food-sovereignty; protection of Sacred Sites and WATER; repatriation; privatization of natural resources & life-forms; commodification & tokenization of Indigenous images & knowledge; continuity of spiritual & healing practices; and the unrestricted access to and use of our traditional medicines and healing practices. We ask you to support us by connecting your work to the local Indigenous communities’ struggles in your area. We call for an annual international day of action between October 11-15 to unite against dirty energy projects and to celebrate our living Indigenous cultures, languages, spiritual practices, sovereignty, and nations. As the caretakers of the land we have a responsibility to honor, love, and give back to our Mother Earth, therefore WE DEMAND that the governments of the U.S. and Canada fully adopt the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without qualifications. We support the existing actions and policies that promote our work by other entities, such as Bolivia’s Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth. We will move forward by working together collaboratively, involving Youth and Elders, to heal from external and internalized oppression to restore BALANCE and to build healthy relationships around the world.

Saturday: Free Our Minds on Free Radio Santa Cruz

2010-07-09T19:41:00.003-05:00

Free Our Minds, hosted by Donna Wallach, will air this Saturday, 10 July, from 6:00 - 8:45 p.m. You can listen online on the Free Radio Santa Cruz website at http://www.freakradio.org/listen.html. Follow the instructions for how to listen online.

Guests:

* Delaney Bruce with the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee who will give a report about Leonard's health, his legal status, the US Social Forum and the UN.
* Kathy Sheetz, who was on the Challenger I of the Freedom Flotilla, one of two US flagged boats that was sabotaged by the Israeli Navy before the boats arrived to the meet-up point, she will tell us what happened on the boat, how the Israelis treated her and how they stole her identity and upcoming actions by Free Gaza USA.
* Thandisizwe Chimurenga, journalist who has been reporting from the Johannes Mehserle trial, she will talk about the jury, the trial and the judge.
* Hans Bennett, an independent multi-media journalist and founder, or is it co-founder of Abu-Jamal News, http://abu-jamal-news.com/ among other websites for justice. Hans will be talking about Mumia Abu-Jamal.

2010 Recap: Leonard Peltier and the Oglala Commemoration

2010-07-05T19:57:00.005-05:00

June 26, 2010 - Oglala, SD

We began gathering at the Little Family Cemetery around noon to another gorgeous day in the making. Once again we greeted old friends and many new one this year. The turnout was great. As Galeson Eagle Star welcomed eveyone, Fred Cedar Face started with prayers. Prayers were said for the heaing of the Oglala People, for those who have passed on and for Leonard's freedom and health, and that he may join us one day soon in this day of remembrance.

An honor song was sung by Creek Side Drum this year. We offer our sincere condolences to the Good Voice Elk family for the loss of their loved one during this time.We had many travelers this year, coming out as far as California, Kansas, Ohio, Montana and Wyoming, we also had some visitors from the French Support Group; it was good to see new faces and to know that Leonard is not forgotten, nor is the Incident at Oglala. Also in attendance was Bob Robideau's family.

The March to the Jumping Bull Property was spirited; many banners were carried as we walked in prayer to the beat of the drum. Arriving at the Jumping Bull Property we were greeted by Ivis Long Visitor, as he welcomed everyone and started the Remembrance of all those who have walked on.The late Bob Robideau's widow Pilar and Cousin Jim all the way from Spain shared a special word, via telephone.Roselyn Jumping Bull shared some words about the gathering. Owen Black Elk spoke words of love for his niece Mariah LeAnn Montileaux; Mariah tragically ended her life this past November.An example of our Native youth who are filled with despair and hopelessness and lacking resources and alternatives seek to end their lives. This year's school supply drive was done in her memory; filled back packs were given out to the children at the property, and several boxes of supplies were given to her family to distribute to her classmates as a remembrance of all those whose lives she so profoundly touched in her short life.Involving Native youth in helping to define their futures is one of the Committee's goals, and it was a group of six students from California who stepped up to the plate to make a difference. These students came from UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and Cal Sate Fullerton; they arrived and presented the Committee with school supplies for the drive as well as toys for the woplia/giveaway.

It is our hope that this relationship grows and that they will continue to contribute their talents to the Pine Ridge Community. As well may these students be enriched with the sense of participation and accomplishment in their outreach efforts.

As in years past we've had to be flexible, and without Fred & Owens' quick thinking and hard work we wouldn't have had a successful event. At the last minute we had to change our concert location; out of respect to those families in Oglala who recently lost love ones, we turned over the Br. Rene hall for their wake, again, our condolences go out to all the families.

We were not able to serve the meal at the Lakota Dome, so we served the meal and shared the memorial cakes at the property. We owe special thanks to the Wahwassuck young ladies for all their hard work in putting together a delicious meal. With everything said and done, words said, honor songs sang, and food eaten, and giveaways shared, we moved on down to the Lakota Dome.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Kevin Lean and Patty Phipps from the Prairie Wind Casino on making this event truly exceptional. The Dome was awesome.

Opening the show was Davidica, a local with a soulful performance; she got us in the mood with passion. Next up were the hard rockers SpyderZback, ending with their special song recently written for Leonard, "A Long Way from No Where". Following was Good Shield, all the way from Northern California; he did an awesome contemporary Native Folk performance. Rounding out the night was Arrow Space rocking us back in time, with special guests Robert and Monte Briggs.Tom Poor Bear graced us with his words and memories. Fred Cedar Face said more prayers and Kari Ann Cowan, Leonard's niece read his statement.

Another year rounded out; all in all, it was a great success.

We would like to thank the following:

Security Crew:
Charles Yellow Bird, Ylene Two Lance, Hattie He Crow, Terry Two Lance, Elgin Young Bear, Chris Lone Elk, Leon Eagle, Paula Wahwassuck, and Kenny Black Elk.

Traditional Drum - Creek Side Drum:
Emmanuel Black Bear, Silas Red Cloud, Tim Black Bear and James Franco.

The Jumping Bull Family, Little Family, Cedar Face Family, Black Elk Family, Leonard Peltier, LP-DOC, Prairie Wind Casino, Wal-mart - Chadron, Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO), Buder Native Studies Programme at Washington University, St. Louis, MO, KILI Radio, KDHX - Sara Finke- St. Louis, MO, RezKing@eblogspot.com, DSW, Inc., Scott Air Force Base Group, Good Shield, Davidica, SpyderZback, Arrow Space, Briggs Brothers, Wahwassuck Family, Karen Doris Wright, Cedar Elk Woman, Norris Chee, Native Voices TV, Tom Poor Bear, Pilar Robideau, Robideau Family, Oasis Music, Alliance, NE, Susan Duhn, Rene Bartlett & Alan Grimsley.

There are so many that make this event possible, the names can go on forever. You know who you are and we thank you!

We will be back after a rest,

Oglala Commemoration Committee

Ain't Buyin' What the G-Man's Sellin'

2010-07-02T14:18:00.008-05:00

"The United States did not follow a policy of genocide; it did try to find a just solution to the Indian problem. The consistent idea was to civilize the Indians, incorporate them into the community, make them part of the melting pot. That it did not work, that it was foolish, conceited, even criminal, may be true, but that doesn’t turn a well-meant program into genocide."

A former agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ed Woods--who has made it his life's mission to prevent Leonard Peltier's release from prison--recently had the audicity to use the above quote to refute Leonard's use of the word "genocide" with regard to Indigenous Peoples.

For your edification, Ed:

Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group.

A legal definition of "genocide" is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide:

"...any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

-- killing members of the group;
-- causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
-- deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
-- imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and
-- forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."

Perhaps you'd prefer the term "ethnic cleansing" better, Ed? A 1993 United Nations Commission defined it specifically as "the planned deliberate removal from a specific territory, persons of a particular ethnic group, by force or intimidation, in order to render that area ethnically homogenous."

Simply? Denying historical facts about the ongoing genocide of Indigenous Peoples is just not acceptable.

Shame on you, Ed.

07/12/2010 Update: Ed now accuses us of misquoting him. We did not. The above quote (authored by Stephen Ambrose) was used to make a point... One we heard loud and clear. Ed now states the following:

"This writer subscribes to Ambrose’s conclusions; they are factual and accurate, based on years of intelligent research, and properly summarize the devastation of the Native American historical experience."

And, so, we were not at all mistaken.

Ed, we refer you to the definition of "genocide". The world view, Ed.

But Ed, no doubt, is also a holocaust denier.

Shame, shame, shame.

Reach Out to Your Members of Congress Next Week for Leonard Peltier

2010-07-01T10:27:00.003-05:00

From July 5 to July 11, Congress will be in recess. When Members of Congress are home, you can ask them questions at public events or set up a meeting in their home offices. Let your members of Congress know how you feel about COINTELPRO, the "Reign of Terror," the railroading of Leonard Peltier, and his illegal imprisonment. To locate your Representative and U.S. Senators, click here.

When making a phone call to the office of your Member of Congress, be sure to include the following information:

Who you are. Let the legislator’s office know that you are a constituent, and you may wish to talk a little bit about your credentials where appropriate.
The issue and your position on it. Whether you're calling a Member of Congress about Peltier's parole, clemency, release of government documents on the case, or the need for congressional hearings be sure to give your position on the issue. Be clear and concise.
How to contact you. Remember to leave your address and telephone number so that you can receive a response from your Member of Congress.

Note: The same guidelines apply when calling the White House to urge the President to grant a commutation of Peltier's sentence. The following telephone numbers may be of used for this purpose: 202-456-1111 or -1112 (Comments); and 202-456-1414 (Switchboard).

If feasible, you may want to request a meeting with your Member of Congress:

Find your Congressional District and contact information.
Send a fax or e-mail to the scheduler requesting a meeting.
Include the date and time of day you will be available to meet with the member, but be flexible about scheduling your visit because Members of Congress have busy calendars.
Offer to meet with a staff member if the Member of Congress is not available (i.e., a Legislative Assistant) .
Include the issue you would like to discuss (Freedom of Information Act reform, for example).
Provide a phone number and/or e-mail address where the scheduler can reach you.
Follow up with a phone call in one week's time if you have not heard back from the congressional office.
When the meeting is scheduled, find accurate information as to the physical location for your legislator's office.
Be on time for the meeting. Staff in most Capitol Hill and district offices are busy and work on tight schedules. Remember that their time is valuable.
Establish a rapport. After introductions and handshakes, talk about things or relationships you might have in common. A little bit of research can pay off, so find out all you can about your Members of Congress. For instance, maybe you have a mutual friend, or perhaps you both went to the same elementary school. Thank your senator or representative for all that he or she does on Capitol Hill to represent your state or district.
If several people will attend the meeting, select a spokesperson. If everyone there will have a role, select one person to move the meeting along in a timely manner.
State your purpose. For example, you might say, "Congressman Lee, we are here to talk with you about hearings on the long-term effects of COINTELPRO. Specifically, we would like to have your support for hearings on the 'Reign of Terror' on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the early 1970s."
Make the issue real. Legislators are people; they are sympathetic to stories about real people. For example, humanize Leonard Peltier by telling the member a little bit about Peltier, the man. If not speaking from personal experience, personalize the events on the Pine Ridge Reservation during the 1970s by sharing published stories. Offer the member a copy of "Incident at Oglala" for viewing or a copy of Peter Matthiessen's book, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.
Paint the little picture, but also the big picture. After you discuss how the issue has affected you, talk about the millions of Peltier supporters worldwide. Include names of congresspersons who currently support or have supported Leonard Peltier in the past, as well as mentioning specific celebrities, dignitaries, and luminaries who also support Peltier.
You should also mention the legislative bodies around the world who have passed resolutions in support of Peltier (e.g., the European Parliament, Belgium Parliament, and more).
Make a clear request. Tell your Member of Congress exactly what you would like him or her to do, and do not leave without learning the legislator’s position on your issue. For example, you might say that you would like your legislator to sign a letter in support of Peltier's release. Then, ask the Member or their staff to outline the legislator’s current position.
Very soon after the meeting, write a thank you letter to your Member for taking the time to visit with you.

It's common for some congressional members to view the Peltier case as history and unimportant to today's world. Don't be dissuaded by this. Instead, use some creativity to make the Peltier case current and important in light of the issues of the day, as well as the political landscape in Washington, DC.

State Dept. Review: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

2010-06-30T18:40:00.002-05:00

The State Department is currently reviewing the United States' failure to endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. As part of this formal review, the State Department is holding consultations with Indian and Alaska Native nations and NGOs to discuss the upcoming review process and receive comments. The State Department wants to receive comments from Indian and Alaska Native nations, NGOs and individuals.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Members of federally recognized tribes can participate in the July 7th Consultation either in person or by conference call. RSVP to declaration@state.gov by July 2, 2010, and include "RSVP - July 7th Tribal Consultation" in the subject line. Please indicate if you will be attending in person or participating via conference call.

Anyone can submit written comments to the State Department by July 15, 2010.

By email to declaration@state.gov

By mail to:

S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW, Suite 1317
Washington, DC 20520.

[Video] June 26th Statement by Leonard Peltier

2010-06-28T08:57:00.002-05:00

Our Auction Page

2010-06-26T14:43:00.002-05:00

Visit our auction page and place your bid.

Donated items are being offered for auction to help raise funds for our freedom campaign. So don't wait. Place a bid.

Click here to view the available items.

Indigenous News from the US Social Forum-Detroit

2010-06-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

The Social Forum in Detroit continues with a healing walk on Saturday and report from Bolivia's Ambassador
New videos, photos and articles at Censored News:
Indigenous Peoples at US Social Forum: Halting the Legacy of Genocide
Art Manuel: Indigenous First Impacted by Resource Extraction
Indigenous Groups Lead Struggle Against Canada's Tar Sands
VIDEO: Tewa Women United at US Social Forum
VIDEO: Navajos Oppose Uranium Mining: US Social Forum
Photos: Toronto Indigenous Day of Action
Native Peoples Assembly: US Social Forum Detroit
Native Peoples Reporting: US Social Forum
Live Earthcycles Thursday US Social Forum
Earthcycles Live at Social Forum
Photos Native American Welcome Dinner: US Social Forum
North American Indigenous Peoples Developing Solutions
Jerry Fisher's Photos: US Social Forum Detroit
Earthcycles Live: Tom Goldtooth, IEN, at US Social Forum
Disturbing Obama's Universe
US Social Forum: More photos by Brita Brookes
US Social Forum Detroit Photos by Brita Brookes
Photos US Social Forum Detroit by Orin Langelle
Earthcycles Live at US Social Forum Detroit
US Social Forum Live/Free Speech TV

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

35th Anniversary of the Firefight: Statement by Leonard Peltier

2010-06-26T12:00:00.001-05:00

June 26, 2010

Greetings,

I want to first say thank you—thank you for taking the time and making the commitment to come to this place—but thank you mostly for remembering. Sometimes I sit in this cage and I find myself wondering if anyone really remembers. Many days, remembering is all my mind allows me to do. So, again, thank you. Thank you for bearing witness and being a part of a living memory.

But maybe the most important thing I’d like to say is don’t forget. Not ever.

You must be the historians who keep this lesson alive because this story isn’t about one day, one event, one person, or even one lifetime. This is a story that goes all the way back to the day a misguided fool, whose name I won’t even mention, led his troops in an attack on innocent people at the Greasy Grass, and in the process got himself and over two hundred of his troopers killed. And while the victors on that day had no choice but to defend themselves, we have been the victims of a genocidal revenge that continues until this very moment. So don’t forget. Not ever.

It is vengeance that preoccupies the mind of the colonizer. It is this fervor to show us who is boss that led to the massacre at Wounded Knee, the theft of the Black Hills, the establishment of boarding schools, and the criminalization of our languages and traditional ways. It is vengeance that armed the GOON squads, killed our leaders, and surrounded our people at Wounded Knee again in 1973. Revenge is why they today prosecute Indian people for the crimes they know the government committed during their murderous campaigns of the last generation. Vengeance is what killed Joe Stuntz, Anna Mae Aquash, Buddy Lamont and so many others. Getting even is what keeps me in prison. So don’t forget. Not ever.

All of these events are bound together, interrelated and interdependent. And quite clearly the lesson they intend for us to learn is don’t defend yourselves. Don’t stand up for what is right. Don’t think for yourselves. Don’t choose to be who you are. Don’t remember your ancestors. Don’t live in defense of the Earth. Don’t you do it! Don’t even think about it. If you do, this government—this mindset of control—will unleash an attack so vast it will even seek to destroy our genetic memories. So don’t forget. Not ever.

In days past, some among our people were induced to become “scouts”. For whatever reasons, these individuals made possible the treacherous campaigns that resulted in the deaths of countless innocent people. These days—sadly—there are still these types amongst us. The government preys on the weaknesses of these people, inducing them to turn against the rest of us. The government uses this treachery to cover up state sanctioned murder and terrorism. They do this and then tell us that what we remember didn’t really happen at all, as though memory or truth is something to be shaped and molded to fit a preconceived outcome. So don’t forget. Not ever.

We gather today after decades and generations of blood and trauma. We gather in defiance.

And we remember.

We remember not just one day or one event, because remembering what occurred on June 25 or June 26—or any particular date—is important, but not as important as an understanding of the ongoing campaign of colonization. This is a continuing human drama of slaughter and uncontrollable bloodlust and we’re still here, engaged in our running defense; praying for balance, peace and justice; and trying to make some sense of it all. Perhaps, in the face of such a menace, the most important thing we can do is remember. So teach your children. Pass this knowledge. Don’t forget. Not ever.

Remembering is resisting and, if we remember, then we’ll be free one day. Free of their mindset. Free of their theft. Free of their guns and their bombs. Free of their cages. Free to be who we are.

And free of their fear. That’s the truest freedom of all and true freedom is what this is really all about, not the illusion of freedom they offer us.

So don’t forget. Not ever.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

Leonard Peltier

Immigration Checkpoint

2010-06-24T23:23:00.000-05:00

Gerald Heaney, influential Minn. judge, dies at 92

2010-06-24T01:09:00.000-05:00

Gerald Heaney, influential Minn. judge, dies at 92
by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio
June 22, 2010

Duluth, Minn. — Retired federal appeals court Judge Gerald Heaney, a longtime DFL activist and an influential jurist, died Tuesday in his hometown of Duluth. He was 92.

One of Heaney's highest profile cases occurred in the 1980s, when Heaney helped draw up a plan to desegregate the St. Louis schools, creating the largest student transfer for racial balance in the United States.

Heaney was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th circuit by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966, after being nominated by Minnesota U.S. Sen. Eugene McCarthy. Heaney lived in Duluth and served in that city, as well as in St. Paul and the 8th circuit's base in St. Louis, Missouri.

Heaney authored or helped write opinions that desegregated schools in Omaha, Neb., Little Rock, Ark. and St. Louis. The voluntary plan he helped craft for St. Louis has been modeled by several other districts.

"We have lost a very good person. I'm quite saddened by it," said Susan Uchitelle, who was appointed to run the St. Louis Metropolitan Voluntary Intra-district Transfer Program.

The program was voluntary for students, but the suburban school districts around St. Louis had to participate.

"So that African-American students in St. Louis would have the opportunity to choose, and go to one of 16 suburban school districts that had less than a 25 percent minority population," she said.

Desegregation planHeaney oversaw the desegregation plan for 20 years, often visiting St. Louis. Uchitelle says he always wanted to share dinner with inner city students who took classes in the suburbs.

Heaney also was key in a case involving American Indian activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents in a shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

While Heaney twice confirmed Peltier's conviction, he also urged clemency for Peltier to help heal the rift between Pine Ridge tribal members and whites.

Heaney was an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, and a champion for women's rights.

Before his appointment to the appeals court, Heaney was a longtime political activist. He grew up in Goodhue County, and spent 20 years practicing law in Duluth.

Along with leading Minnesota Democrats Orville Freeman and Hubert Humphrey, Heaney fought in 1948 to keep the Democratic Party from moving too far left, staying on the side of incumbent President Harry Truman over Henry Wallace.

Heaney helped organize Hubert Humphrey's 1948 U.S. Senate campaign.

Heaney was also a war hero, landing in Normandy on D-Day, 1944, and fighting across Europe during World War II, earning the Silver and Bronze Stars.

In a 2006 interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Heaney explained how his life influenced his decisions from the bench.

"My life experience -- for growing up in a small town, a kind father, serving the Army, representing the labor movement, being involved in politics -- and so finally when you get a hard case, a tough case that people can reasonably disagree on, it comes down to really what you think is best for our country in the long run," Heaney said at the time.

Remembrances of Heaney are pouring in from top Democrats.

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Judge Heaney was one of the most influential legal minds in Minnesota's history.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale called Heaney one of the truly remarkable Minnesotans and Americans in modern history.

"I personally think he should have been on the Supreme Court," said Mondale. "Before he went on the bench he was a leader in DFL politics. He was very close to Hubert [Humphrey], and to Gene McCarthy, John Blatnik -- almost to everybody ... [He was] a wonderful, wonderful human being with a marvelous record."

U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, who represents Minneesota's 8th Congressional District, said he talked with Heaney just last Friday. Oberstar said Heaney's mind was alert and keen, and his sense of humor was intact -- as was his passion.

Heaney retired from the appeals court in 2006. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eleanor. Services are pending.

Oglala Commemoration Update: Concert Venue Change

2010-06-24T00:16:00.000-05:00

Due to all unforseen events in Oglala we have moved the concert portion of the event to the Prairie Wind Casino. Concert will begin at 6:00PM.

Dinner will be served at the Jumping Bull Property.

Please post and disseminate widely.

Opening Ceremony, US Social Forum: Leonard Peltier

2010-06-22T18:00:00.001-05:00

LEONARD PELTIER: STATEMENT FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY
U.S. SOCIAL FORUM-DETROIT
June 22, 2010

Welcome to the traditional lands of my people, the Anishinabe... Greetings, my brothers and sisters. Greetings also to my relations from the many different Indigenous Nations who now call this place “ Home ” . Thank you for your warm welcome.

Hello to all the people of conscience in attendance at the US Social Forum. Thank you for taking the time and expense to attend an event that people will talk about for years to come. I know if you focus and believe, this event can be a major step in the development of a new society—one that turns away from fossil fuels, war and the rampant destruction of our universal home and, instead, focuses on the betterment of all... as opposed to the enrichment of a select few.

I ask that you work this week, in particular, toward full recognition of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as an essential component of a just and honorable U.S. human rights policy. As many of you may know, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was developed over many years with the participation of thousands of Indigenous Peoples. It is consistent with human rights principles as contained in international law, as well as the U.S. Constitution. And, yet, two nations with the largest Indigenous populations—Canada and the United States—have failed to endorse the Declaration. We call upon the United States government to finally endorse the Declaration in its entirety—without qualifications or exceptions—and to work in full partnership with Indigenous Peoples, Tribal governments and Nations to ensure its implementation.

I am Leonard Peltier, an American Indian political prisoner who fought against some of the same ideas and mechanisms many of you are fighting against today. Perhaps it was in a different way and a different time, but many years ago we were warning against the very realities many of you face today. The energy companies were raping Indian Country years ago—long before the oil spills, the mining disasters, and the poisoned waters America has come to know so well. So perhaps you can spare a few minutes to listen to the admonitions of an old man, an old warrior whose wisdom has come at a very high price.

I encourage you to find unity in your various causes, because all of your struggles are linked. Actually, you don’t just find unity, you create it—each of you individually. Create unity within your specific organizations. And between them. Link your efforts and find ways to network and maximize those efforts.

Making change has never been more important. Make the most of every second, for time is growing short, as so many prophecies have foretold. Educate others about the realities you are struggling for and against. Especially focus on educating the young people who will further your efforts tomorrow. Know that your sensibilities are a gift from Creator intended to wake up and shake up the world so that we may improve how we treat the Earth and each other.

We Indian people like to say “we are all related”. I pass that truth on to you now. Each and every one of you and the work you are doing are related. Let that be your greeting between groups and persons, as well as an ethic—the very spirit of what gatherings like this are intended to be. Practice thinking and saying it until it is automatic. We are all related, so put aside whatever differences you may have and make solidarity a new and constant reality. Remember, this is not your struggle. It is for everyone.

I thank you for taking the time to remember an old activist and perhaps learn from the experiences of another people from another time.

Now go out and change the world! Make it a place you’ll be proud to hand to the next seven generations!

Doksha.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

Leonard Peltier

US Political Prisoners: Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the Cuban 5. 23 June @ the USSF

2010-06-19T18:54:00.001-05:00

Prison Justice: People's Movement Assembly

2010-06-19T15:44:00.003-05:00

PRISON JUSTICE
People's Movement Assembly
US Social Forum, Detroit, MI
Co-sponsored by the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee

Incident at Oglala: 35th Anniversary Events

2010-06-19T15:23:00.006-05:00

25 June

AIM-WEST, Inter-Tribal Friendship House and American Indian Movement (AIM) cordially invite the Bay Area to an afternoon of fundraising activities and information with a theme of political prisoners held in the U.S.

Come learn about the case of American Indian prisoner, Leonard Peltier, incarcerated over 35 years! Yes, longer than Nelson Mandela! It is cruel and inhumane, and Leonard should be released immediately!!

The youth, students and young adults (that’s you!), are especially encouraged to attend and learn about the “reign of terror” that took the lives of over 65 people during 1973-76 in South Dakota. No one has been held accountable for their deaths! And yet Leonard Peltier languishes in prison today.

Date: Friday, June 25, 2010
Time: 5 pm to 9 pm
Location: Inter-Tribal Friendship House, 523 International Boulevard, Oakland, CA
Price/donation: $ 5.00, No one turned away for lack of cash!

The program will be aired with live audience on radio KPFA radio FM 94.1 starting at 5 pm to 6 pm with “Flashpoints” hosted by Dennis Bernstein, Miguel “Gavilan” Molina, and special guest Jimbo Simmons.

The evening MC will be Bill “Jimbo” Simmons, AIM-WEST host, with musical performance, along with drummers and singers, the traditional Mexica Azteca Danzantes, prisoner rights advocates, and raffle!

A special showing of film, “Warrior-The Life of Leonard Peltier” This video (starts at 6:30 pm) is officially endorsed by Leonard Peltier (85 minutes): The shocking, true story of Leonard Peltier, the American Indian leader locked away for life in Leavenworth Penitentiary, convicted of aiding and abetting, for the death of two FBI agents during a bloody shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Reservation on June 26, 1975. To understand Peltier’s story, ”Warrior” takes us back to the violent confrontations at Pine Ridge and Wounded Knee in the Seventies, and then to today’s Indian reservations where the government’s plans for uranium mining and waste dumping are still being heatedly resisted by Indian activists. The heart of the film, though, is a detailed painstaking account of Peltier’s harrowing odyssey through the American justice system.

For more information, call 415-577-1492 or visit the website www.aimwest.info.
To learn more about Leonard Peltier, please visit www.whoisleonardpeltier.info.

FREEDOM FOR LEONARD PELTIER NOW!!

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26 June

Oglala, SD: Oglala Commemoration. See www.oglalacommemoration.com.

Click on Event Flyer

Click on

Youth Concert Promo

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26 June

San Jose, CA: Commemorating Leonard Peltier & the Reign of Terror. Fundraiser for Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LP-DOC). Honor Leonard Peltier And those who lost their lives during the Reign of Terror. Help build the movement to bring about Leonard’s release from prison.

Saturday, 26 June 2010
@ SJSU Bldg. Auditorium, Room 189, and the grassy area
3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Program:

* Update on Leonard Peltier
* Statement by Leonard Peltier
* Vic Buildsafire - hip hop artist, among others
* Screening "Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story"
* Following the film, potluck at 7th Street BBQ pits on campus

Sponsored by LPDOC Chapter, Silicon Valley, California, USA. For more information, contact Donna at 408-293-4774 or send an e-mail to FreeLeonardPeltier@hotmail.com.