Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

AIN’T NO TIME TO SURRENDER: A PERSONAL STATEMENT

The news just broke on this cold winter morning, no clemency for Leonard Peltier.

Clinton could not find it within himself to take a bold action for peace and justice. Clinton goes out of office as he came into office, just another keeper of the great white way. Though we are all extremely disappointed that Leonard has not been freed upon this day; still it ain’t no time to surrender.

Leonard’s trial was a frame-up and not an act of justice, but an act of retaliation against a person who stood his ground for his people. Leonard’s appeals through the courts disproved the government’s case against him, but no new and fair trial was grant. A number of parole hearings were held, but they were nothing more than continuing statements of the government’s desire for retribution. Since 1993 we have fought the battle for Executive Clemency, only to have another door slammed in our face; still it ain’t no time for surrender.

People from around the world have struggled for justice for Leonard, marched in the streets, signed petitions, wrote letters and organized countless events; while the other side had their supporters, but far fewer than Leonard. Today it has been made clear that on the level of public will the voice’s of repression are more equal than the voices of justice. One Nation under corporate rule, for the corporations, by the corporations, with liberty and justice for the corporations solely. This is the real manifesto of America today; still it ain’t no time to surrender.

Many people have worked hard for justice for Leonard. Some now ask what more can be done? Was this not Leonard’s last chance for freedom? Is there any point in continuing to march for a cause that seems hopeless? To this I answer in the strongest voice that I have; Leonard Peltier is being held in the Iron House by the hands of people, at any point those hands can set him free. There is only hopelessness in the acts of doing nothing. As long as the struggle continues there will always be hope; it ain’t no time to surrender.

We have fought legal battles in the courts, moral battles in parole hearings and in the campaign for clemency. Now is the time to fight this battle out in the public and build the will of the people to free Leonard even stronger. Where the corporation’s meet we need to let them know that the name Leonard Peltier will never go away. Where the government’s political police force, the FBI, plans their campaigns against dissent, we should be on the outside with our banners proclaiming JUSTICE FOR LEONARD PELTIER.

Where ever the politicians go out into the public, we should be there reminding them that they hold the keys to Leonard’s prison door. The actions of the FBI and their political bosses clearly show that they fear Leonard and the movement to free him. For they know that with every person who stands with Leonard another person has come out from beneath the veil of governmental deception. The answer to freedom for Leonard Peltier is that the people must cost the deceivers more than they are willing to pay; it ain’t no time to surrender.

I know that people are tired, depressed and more than a little angry, this struggle has been damn hard. But we must remember that what we do is called a struggle because it ain’t easy to right the wrongs in this society. I am not just saying this because it sounds profound. I have worked continuously for 22 years for justice for Leonard. My children have grown-up marching for Leonard and now my grandchildren are starting to do the same. Time does not make this struggle any easier. Time does not make the frustrations of having so-many doors slammed in you face less painful.

Though a great wave of depression, anger and rage has swept over me this morning, still I know in my heart; it ain’t no time to surrender!

Arthur J. Miller
E-mail: bayou@blarg.net