Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

What follows are some plans of actions which were proposed and accepted at the June 1999 Leonard Peltier Organizing Conference. [**Note: See Organizing Conference Report]

The most important issues we will be organizing around during the next year are: executive clemency, habeas corpus challenging the parole commission, health, congressional campaign, spring parole hearing, and the International campaign.

We hope that through our combined efforts we can build the campaign to free Leonard Peltier into a strong movement. Therefore, we suggest a plan of action that builds one event on another and shows its strength through its continuity and coordination. In between these dates we need to do as much outreach as possible in order to build the base we need to make these successful.

[NOTE: We need to be prepared to fill the courtroom if we get a hearing as a result of the habeas corpus petition. We do not know when the hearing will happen, but it will be in Topeka, Kansas.]

**July

Share the strategies formed at the conference with your network, friends family, etc. Begin planning concrete ways to carry out these ideas. If you are not registered as a contact person, LPSG, or Solidarity Organization with the LPDC please do so. If you have not yet gotten the new LPDC Organizing Hand Book, we think it will be helpful to have one -- suggested donation is $5.00.

If you are attending any kind of demonstration which relates to prison issues, political prisoners, police brutality, environmental issues, Indigenous Peoples issues, etc. try to make your presence as a Peltier supporter known. Let other Peltier supporters know you are attending and plan a meeting point in order to make Leonard’s case visible.

For example this July 3rd and 4th there will be a big demonstration and civil disobedience in Philadelphia organized by MOVE and International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu Jamal. Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Janet Reno, etc. will be in Philadelphia Furthermore, Clinton has invited a former political prisoner from China and therefore it is important we make a strong impression that there are political prisoners in the U.S. like Mumia (death row political prisoner) and Leonard. Peltier supporters attending this demonstration can meet at the LPSG Philadelphia Peltier table.

**Sunday, September 12, 1999, - Leonard’s 55 Birthday

September 12 is Leonard Peltier’s 55 birthday. The LPDC is proposing that we focus this day on public outreach and fund raising. Emphasize to people that Leonard has spent almost half his life in prison for a crime he did not commit. His health is deteriorating and his grandchildren are now in their teens and growing up fast. It is important that people understand how urgent his situation is. Organize video showings, lectures, book readings, benefit concerts with speakers, distribute flyers and set up information tables in busy areas. Encourage your local radio stations and cable access stations to focus the day on Peltier. The next day, try to do outreach in high schools, campuses, shopping malls etc, in order to spread the information on Peltier’s case and to gather support from students. Through out this day and week emphasize the Fall actions planned for D.C. Funds are desperately needed to make the Fall campaigning a success. We are also in need of funds for habeas corpus petition recently filed.

**October 12, 1999 - International Day in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.

On this symbolic date many events are organized for the struggle of Indigenous Peoples. If there is something being organized for it in your community make sure Leonard’s case is part of the agenda. If there is nothing being set up, we encourage you to organize something for Leonard and Indigenous Peoples of the Americas on this day.

**November 1999 (National Native American Indian Month) - Washington D.C. Event (Lobby White House and US Congress) - two weeks to 30 days (dates not set yet).

Jennifer Harbury will be focusing her efforts on lobbying the Congress to support clemency and/or parole and subsequently for Congressional Hearings for Leonard this Fall. By late October she will have established a lot of support in Congress. Because Clemencies are traditionally granted in December and this is the last December Clinton will be in office, it is important that we hold public events in late October and November in Washington D.C. that will have a large impact on the media, Congress and the Clinton administration.

To really have an impact on Congress and the White House, we will need to have a visible presence for at least two weeks. Therefore we are proposing that there be a two to four week visible show of support in front of the White House possibly beginning the last week of October and continuing into November which has also been declared National Native American Month by Clinton. It is important that this be culturally relevant, visible, and have a strong impact. This will begin with a delegation of Nobel Peace Prize winners lead by Rigoberta Menchu, world known Mayan activist from Guatemala and current UNESCO good will ambassador for the International Decade for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Jean Day, Oglala Survivor, has also proposed that the Indigenous Women Network, with Rigoberta Menchu, try to meet with Hillary Clinton in this same time period. We also want to solicit help from well known celebrities, tribal representatives, NGOs, and Indigenous peoples delegations world wide. Your suggestions and contacts are needed.

The weeks that follow we are proposing that there be visible cultural events, prayers, and speakers in front of the White House as well as vigils at night. In order for this to be as visually attention drawing as possible, Leonard has proposed that there be a display of tipis near the White House during this time. We were also considering a big one day Pow Wow in hopes to attract a lot of the Native and non-Native communities to gather in front of the white house.

To begin organizing this we first need to build a Native advisory committee to help with the cultural and spiritual aspects of the event. We need Human Rights Organizations to co-sponsor and endorse the event. We also need to build logistical committees who will help with logistics in DC and transportation and outreach nationally. We definitely need grant writers and fund raisers. Please give us your feed back as to how and if this can be successful as well as what you can do to help. Time is short!

**December 10th, 1999 - International Day of Human Rights

On December 10 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed. On this day we should remind all relevant governmental agencies that the U.S. signed this Declaration, and the continued incarceration and refusal of appropriate medical care to Leonard Peltier violates it. Flood your Congressional Representatives, Senators, and the White House with phone calls and faxes. During the weeks prior to this date you can collect letters and petitions of support to fax or drop off at their offices. Arrange phone trees so that governmental representatives will receive as many calls as possible on this day. If you are not in the U.S. focus your efforts on the White House and the U.S. embassy in your country. This will be conducted and coordinated internationally. This is an especially important date because Clemencies are granted in December and this is the LAST time Clinton will be in office during Christmas. Ask your Congressional reps and senators to support the clemency petition.

**January

Begin letter writing campaign to the parole commission in support of parole for Leonard Peltier. We will put a sample letter out to use when the time comes near. Leonard’s last Interim Parole Review Hearing was in May, therefore the next one will also likely be in May 2000.

**June 21st to 26th, 2000

June 21st is the International Prayer Day. Each year, Arvol Looking Horse, along with other Native traditional peoples gather in order to do ceremonies for peace. This year, it will be the 25th anniversary of the Incident at Oglala. Therefore we are suggesting to start a six day prayer, fast, vigil, etc, in front of the White House and FBI Buildings.

**June 26th, 2000 - International Day in Solidarity with Leonard Peltier 25th Anniversary of the Incident at Oglala

It is difficult to predict what will be happening with Leonard’s case at this time. Some people from South Dakota would like to have a commemoration at Oglala, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Others have suggested to organize a new demonstration in front of the White House. Let us know what you come up with.

**July 4th, 2000 - Possible Civil Disobedience

**August 14th, 2000 - Demonstration at the Democratic National Convention (Los Angeles)

Emergency Network:
We need to establish an emergency network in order to be able to effectively and quickly respond to a medical emergency and to mobilize people to Kansas if we get a hearing as a result of the Habeas Corpus petition. We need to find people who have transportation and will be able to come to Kansas and we need to establish phone trees if Leonard is transferred and possibly in danger.

International LPDC Lobby Work:
At an international level the LPDC will continue its work to present the Peltier’s case to the World community and to have investigations on the wrong doings of the United States by the United Nations’ Bodies, foreign governments officials and recognized Human Rights Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

**July 1999 U.N. - Working Group on Indigenous Peoples (July 26 to 30) - Geneva

The International Spokesperson of the LPDC will address Leonard’s current situation and make contact with indigenous delegations and Human Rights NGOs to support the November action in Washington D.C.

**August 1999 U.N. - Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (August 2 to 27) - Geneva

The LPDC will be asking NGOs with consultative status with the UN to address Leonard’s case (in particular the denial of proper medical treatment) and we will try to have a resolution adopted. Last year Leonard was officially declared a Human Rights Defender. The UN has set forth a new system which gives special attention to the protection of Human Rights of those declared Human Rights Defenders and we will try implement this to have Leonard’s case investigated. (United Nations - Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of the Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom, General Assembly resolution 53/144, adopted December 10th, 1998).

**August 1999

Bobby Castillo, LPDC International Spokesperson will do another tour in Europe to gather new support and continue the momentum with supportive organizations.

**September 1999

U.N. - Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (September 13 to 17) - Geneva Leonard and the LPDC must send a new and accurate communication with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention asking them to investigate the case (we might have to use the Petition for Habeas Corpus/Parole Commission). We need also to find NGOs with Consultative Status to send such communications to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

**October 1999, U.N. - Working Group on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (October 18 to 29) - Geneva

The LPDC will make further contacts with indigenous delegations and Human Rights NGOs to support and endorse the November action in Washington D.C.

**October 1999, European Parliament: The LPDC and its European Network will start a new lobby campaign at the European Parliament.

**March/April, 2000: U.N. - Commission on Human Rights

LPDC has to continue its lobby on government officials and NGOs to push for the appointment of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to carry out a joint visit in the USA to investigate the administration of justice in this country and to investigate the case of Leonard Peltier, a recognized Human Rights Defender, as well as the cases of other political Prisoners like Ramsey Muniz and other Xicano movement prisoners, Oscar Lopez Rivera and the Puerto Rican Independence prisoners, Mumia Abu Jamal and the Black Liberation prisoners and the condition of detention of the 1.8 million prisoners in the United States, especially at the Marion Control Unit, Leavenworth federal Penitentiary, Pelican Bay State Prison, Florence Institution, among others. (NOTE: If you are on the board or if you are a member of an NGO with consultative status with the United Nations (category ECOSOC II), please try to have your organization help us and get involved with Leonard’s case. We also need the assistance of students, professors or attorneys specialized in International Laws and Politics to help us with our lobby work.)

DIFFERENT DELEGATIONS TO VISIT LEONARD

The LPDC is also working to have delegations visit Leonard Peltier at the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary such as the recent fact finding mission lead by Danielle Mitterrand, Former First Lady of France and president of the Human Rights NGO, France Libertes. Rigoberta Menchu Tum announced that she will organize a Nobel Peace Prize Delegation next October or November to visit Leonard. Members of the Canadian Parliament, of the Mexican Parliament, of the Belgian Parliament and of the European Parliament have expressed their wish to go to Leavenworth. We are also trying to have several different NGOs working in Human Rights and Prisoners’ issues and on cases of arbitrary detention to investigate the case and meet directly with Leonard.

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