Urgent Leonard Peltier in grave danger.

international | crime and justice | other press

Thursday January 22, 2009 13:51

by PhillyActivists

Please see the urgent message below from Leonard Peltier's sister. Pursuant to Betty Ann Peltier Solano's letter about her brother, let the Bureau of Prisons know that the public will hold them accountable for the safety and wellbeing of Leonard Peltier.

Please see the urgent message below from Leonard Peltier's sister. Pursuant to Betty Ann Peltier Solano's letter about her brother, let the Bureau of Prisons know that the public will hold them accountable for the safety and wellbeing of Leonard Peltier.

Forwarded on behalf of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee

URGENT! Leonard Peltier's Safety in Jeopardy!

Dear LP Supporters,

I am so OUTRAGED! My brother Leonard (Leonard's prisoner ID number ("register number") 89637-132) was severely beaten upon
his arrival at the Canaan Federal Penitentiary. When he went
into population after his transfer, some inmates assaulted him.
The severity of his injuries is that he suffered numerous blows to
his head and body, receiving a large bump on his head, possibly
a concussion, and numerous bruises. Also, one of his fingers
is swollen and discolored and he has pain in his chest and
ribcage. There was blood everywhere from his injuries.

We feel that prison authorities at the prompting of the FBI
orchestrated this attack and thus, we are greatly concerned about
his safety. It may be that the attackers, whom Leonard did not
even know, were offered reduced sentences for carrying out this
heinous assault. Since Leonard is up for parole soon, this could be
a conspiracy to discredit a model prisoner. He was placed in solitary
confinement and only given one meal, this is generally done when you
won't name your attackers; incidentally being only given one meal
seriously jeopardizes his health because of his diabetes. Prison
officials refuse to release any info to the family, but they need
to hear from his supporters to protect his safety, as does President
Obama. His attorneys are trying to get calls into him now.

This attack on LP comes on the heels of the FBI's recent letter,
prompting this attack by FBI supporters as an attempt to discredit
LP as a model prisoner. Anyone who has been in the prison system
knows well that if you refuse to name your attackers or file charges
against them, then you lose your status as a victim and/or given
points against your possible parole and labeled as a perpetrator. It
is not uncommon, in fact is quite common for the government to use
Indian against Indian and they still operate under the old adage
"it takes an Indian to catch an Indian". In 1978, they made an
attempt to assassinate him through another Indian man who was also
at Marion prison with LP. But Standing Deer chose to reveal the
plot to him instead of taking his life in exchange FOR A CHANCE
AT FREEDOM. When Standing Deer was released in 2001, he joined
the former Leonard Peltier Defense Committee as a board member. He
also began to speak on Leonard's behalf until his murder six years
ago today. Prior to his murder, Standing Deer confided with close
friends and associates that the same man who visited him in Marion
to assassinate Peltier, had came to Houston, TX and told him that
he had better stay away from Peltier and anything to do with him.

We are aware that currently, the FBI is actively seeking support
for his continued imprisonment of Leonard Peltier and also also
seeking support from Native People. So please be aware, and keep
Leonard in your prayers. The FBI is apparently afraid of the impact
we are having. If they will set him up to blemish his record just
before a parole hearing, what will they do when it looks like his
freedom will become a reality? We need to make sure that nothing
happens to him again!

Please write the President, send it priority or registered
mail. Email to Change.gov or email President Obama. Call your
congressional representatives and write letters, not email, to
them. Do what you can to get the word out to insure that LP is
receiving adequate medical attention for his injuries.

I am asking you, supporters of Leonard and advocates of justice at
this time to help. I don't know what else to do. Please Help!

Thank you Betty Peltier-Solano Executive Coordinator
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee

Also call and request Leonard be treated with dignity and
respect. Canaan Federal Prison
570-488-8000

-----
Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Friends of Peltier
http://www.FreePeltierNow.org

Send to:

Warden Ronnie R. Holt, Warden USP-Canaan U.S. Penitentiary

3057 Easton Turnpike Waymart, PA 18472 Phone: 570-488-8000 Fax: 570-488-8130 E-mail address: CAA/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV

D. Scott Dodrill, Director Northeast Regional Office Federal Bureau of Prisons

2nd & Chesnut Streets., 7th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19106 Phone: 215-521-7301 E-mail: NERO/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV

Harley G. Lappin, Director Bureau of Prisons U.S. Department of Justice

320 First Street, NW, Room 654 Washington, DC 20534 Phone: 202-307-3250 Fax: 202-514-6878

Ask President Obama to investigate this incident:

The Honorable Barack H. Obama The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 Fax: 202-456-2461 E-mail: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/