Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Later this month Rigoberta Menchu (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and international indigenous rights activists) and Danielle Mitterrand (former First Lady of France and President of the human rights NGO France Libertes) will be holding press conferences in Washington, D.C. and in front of the U.S. Federal Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. Their press conferences will be calling for justice for framed American Indian Movement activist and political prisoner Leonard Peltier and that he be allowed medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic by Dr. Keller.

Even though the federal prison doctors have stated that there is nothing they can do to end Leonard's continuous, excruciating pain, the Bureau Of Prisons (BOP) continues to refuse to allow treatment by the renowned maxilla-facial surgeon Dr. Keller, who has offered to treat Leonard at the Mayo Clinic. This is an act of outright politically motivated torture of a political prisoner!

There has been an on going campaign to end the torture of Leonard Peltier. People from around the world have sent thousands of messages to the BOP. Human rights organizations, including members of Amnesty International, have contacted the BOP about Leonard's condition. Members of congress have made inquires also.

We are asking people to help us step up this campaign in order to give support to the planned press conferences. Please send as many messages as possible the rest of this month to: Ms. Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director, Bureau Of Prisons, 320 First St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20534, e-mail; swolfson@bop.gov and khawk@bop.gov, fax; 202- 514-6878, or call: 202-307-3198. Leonard needs this solidarity to give greater strength to the press conferences.

Additional Help With the Washington State Campaign.

People around the country have been contacting members of congress and asking them to inquire into Leonard's medical condition and why the BOP will not let Dr. Keller treat him at the Mayo Clinic. Here in Washington, and it should be pointed out that Leonard lived in this state before the events at Pine Ridge, we are asking people to please send messages asking for inquires to: Governor Gary Locke, e-mail; governor.locke@governor.wa.gov Sen. Patty Murray, e-mail; senator_murray@murray.senate.gov

This years WASHINGTON GATHERING TO FIGHT RACISM will be focusing on the long struggles of political prisoners Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier. These two cases have come to represent the worst in the institutionalized racism in the U.S. so-called justice system. Also, these two cases represent just how far the justice system we go to frame those that speak out against injustice. There is a great bond of solidarity between Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier, for they both know the great importance their solidarity means to all political prisoners and the fight against racism and injustice in this land.

We are also focusing on the struggle of Native Prisoners to regain their religious rights in Washington State prisons. There has been a new wave of denial of these rights that few people seem to know about. In focusing on this issue we do also acknowledge the struggles of other prisoners as the prison system is becoming more oppressive and reactionary everyday.

We ask for your help in publicizing this years WASHINGTON GATHERING TO FIGHT RACISM. Please forward this message and our updates to all those that you can. Please talk among you groups and organizations about organizing people to attend this event. For those who wish to distribute flyers and posters please contact the NWLPSN- Tacoma Office.

How far we are able to get the word out about this event depends on how much money we are able to raise. The NWLPSN is a grassroots network with no outside funding. Please send donations, if you can, to: NWLPSN-Olympia Office, 5201 Capitol Blvd, Suite 119, Olympia, WA 98501.

MUMIA ABU JAMAL's Message of support for Leonard Peltier.

Ona Move!

We, all of us, give solid thanks to Leonard Peltier and his numerous supporters worldwide, for the principled assistance in France recently. I deeply appreciate it - we ALL do.

Many years ago, when I was doing radio commentary for several Philadelphia college stations, I frequently received taped reports from communications people from AIM (American Indian Movement ), and promptly reported such information to my audience. What I learned was that the U.S. government was waging a vicious and unrelenting war against native people. In (It) was a phase in that war that an innocent Lakota activist, Leonard Peltier was dogged by this government, and framed for murder.

For almost a quarter of a century, this kind and gentle warrior, this artist, this son of his people, has withstood the brutal assaults of the U.S. government, against its own "law," its own constitution, its own precedent.

On February 6, 1999 the calendar will strike 23 long and lonely years in U.S. gulags for Leonard Peltier. Twenty-three years since an overtly illegal extradition from Canada to the U.S. Twenty-three years in a Yankee Iron Cage for the "crime" of resisting American repression.

As we enter a new century, it is past time for us to correct this vile injustice against Leonard Peltier. Let a new century begin with an act of justice for the Oglala people.

Free Leonard Peltier!
Free the MOVE 9! Long Live John Africa!
In the Spirit of Nat Turner
And Crazy Horse!
Ona Move!
Mumia

LEONARD PELTIER'S STATEMENT in solidarity with Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Greetings friends, supporters and Mumia,

I know that this must be a sad and frustrating time for you as the negative defeats that we have received in my case have been to us. I know it is easy for me and others to tell you to not give up the fight. I personally understand and know the feeling many times through this twenty-three years of wanting to say the hell with it and give up-- believing that there is no way to defeat this evil empire. Sometimes it just seems hopeless.

When this happens I am always reminded by my courageous supporters, like those of you who are here today, that to accept defeat is not a warrior's way.

As long as the people have not accepted defeat, neither will we. So I would like to encourage you to stay strong and continue the fight until Mumia is victorious.

It is an outrage that the courts continue to ignore blatant evidence and continue to play legal games with our lives. This insanity is a huge insult, not only to those of us who remain unjustly imprisoned, but to all of you who dedicate your lives to our freedom and are ignored by the corporate owned justice system and media.

I want to encourage supporters to intensify the struggle for Mumia's life.

I know you can stop this execution because no matter how evil a government may be they still cannot defeat the power of the people. Your work and help is needed more than ever. We must now live and breathe Mumia's case twenty-four hours a day.

If we are able in unity to stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal, we are not only saving the life of the man who speaks for those who are not often heard and who's stories are rarely told, but you are saving all of us who remain unjustly behind bars from the depths of hopelessness. FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!

In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse
Leonard Peltier

For updated information concerning Leonard Peltier and other news concerning North American Indians, subscribe to one or more of the following email lists!

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