Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Here is our conference proposal including many confirmed speakers. Let us know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks, --LPDC

WHY AN ORGANIZING CONFERENCE?

Leonard Peltier has been in prison for 23 years. Over the years amazing accomplishments have been made which have helped to educate many about his case, expose his innocence, build support, and to most importantly, keep him alive. But, astonishingly, we have not yet gained his freedom. Twenty-three years is a long time and over the years activity around his case has fallen and risen. The government has shown us that they in no way intend to simply do the right thing and let Leonard out. It is obvious that at this point we need to be better organized and dedicated to his freedom (which stands for our own freedom) which can only be obtained by a massive collective effort of the people.

Now is a time for unity. Over the years people have had many ideas and strategies on how Leonard's freedom could be obtained. Oftentimes conflicts arise as to what kind of activity is appropriate. While all strategies planned must be known and okayed by Leonard and we must all work on the same page, we feel that we must encourage everyone to do what they do best and we must work on every possible level simultaneously--from grass roots to lobbying to legal strategies. We want everyone who attends this conference to go home better prepared to organize with a feeling of renewed dedication and unity.

PROPOSAL FOR WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS:

Legal Presentation:
Lawyers will update the conference attendees on the current legal status of Leonard's case. This will be followed by a question and answer session. The purpose of this will be to let everyone know where Leonard's case stands, how they can support it, and to answer any questions people may have about Leonard's case in general. Carl Nadler (confirmed), Eric Seitz (confirmed), Jennifer Harbury (confirmed) and Ramsey Clark (invited) will be giving this presentation.

Prison Issues Presentation:
Presentations given by ex-prisoners and prisoner advocates will be given in order to sensitize people to the conditions under which prisoners are currently living. This should also include current restrictions continuing to be implemented at Leavenworth such as limiting visits, banning radios, etc. This will help to create the sense of urgency needed to free Leonard while helping to build the movement to educate people as to the realities prisoners face today. Helen Felix Baca (confirmed), Bobby Castillo (confirmed), and Ida Robinson (invited) will be giving this presentation.

Presentation on International Campaign:
Bobby Castillo will report to the conference attendees on the current state of the international campaign, its importance, and how people can help support it. Noal Kleinman (invited-Amnesty International), Paul Hoffman (invited-Amnesty International), Sharon Venne (invited), and Nelson Mandela's attorney, Lennox Hinds (invited), will also discuss the importance of international pressure in the Peltier freedom campaign.

Lobbying:
Jennifer Harbury (confirmed), Keith Jennings (confirmed-president of the African American Human Rights Foundation), Ernie Stevens, Jr.(confirmed-president of the National Congress of American Indians), and Faye Brown (invited) will be giving a lesson on the best way for Peltier supporters to lobby their elected officials, get meetings set up, get city resolutions passed, etc. Lobbying packets to be used to educate elected officials will be sold at cost during this workshop. They will include: the FBI files, the 10 minute lobbying video, the book, THE TRIAL OF LEONARD PELTIER, and a one page summary of lobbying tips and contacts.

Political Prisoners:
Ex-political prisoners such as Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt (invited) and representatives for current political prisoners such as Pam Africa for Mumia Abu-Jamal (confirmed), Marcos Vilar for the Puerto Rican POWs (invited), Irma Muniz for Chicano political prisoner Ramsey Muniz (confirmed), Kahn Tineta-Horn and OJ for Wolverine (invited), LPDC for Peltier, and members of Jericho such as Safiya Bukari (confirmed), will discuss strategies that we as a group can use to strengthen the movement to free all political prisoners. Discussed could be possible legal strategies that could be taken as a group, future Jericho actions, and other ways we can support each other.

Grass-Roots Organizing for Leonard Peltier Support Groups,
Leonard Peltier Coalitions, Human Rights Groups, etc:
The topics of this workshop will include specific ways to organize for Leonard Peltier on a grass roots level. Discussed will be tabling, phone trees, meetings, media, film showings, mailing lists, on campus activities, protests, etc. This workshop may be most successful if we at some point split into specific working groups. During this workshop organizing packets will be available for purchase at cost. They will include: The Leonard Peltier Support Group handbook, a copy of "Incident at Oglala", a bundle of Spirit of Crazy Horse news letters, The FBI files, literature to copy, buttons, bumper stickers, T-shirts, and Leonard Peltier Support Group Banners. We should also decide a date for the next plan of action, where it will occur, and what it will entail. David Dellinger (on organizing Civil Disobedience-confirmed), Karen Pickett (how to mobilize mass movements-invited), CT Butler (group decision making-confirmed), Professor Michael Yellow Bird (on campus organizing-confirmed), Arthur Miller (North West Peltier regional coordinator on building long term community support-confirmed) and Julie Powell or Syvia Tamarkin (CNN-getting media attention-invited) are some of the people invited to run this work shop.

DETAILS:
This conference will be held here in Kansas. Make arrangements to attend! Kansas City is the closest airport if you will be flying. Organize caravans and busses if you will be driving. You will need to register with us if you are coming, but details involving food, lodging, and transportation are currently being worked out. We are trying to make this as affordable as possible. We will let you know ASAP what we are able to secure. Call the LPDC for more information.

[LPDC Note: We are at the early planning stages of this conference, if you have input or ideas let us know!]

Information received by way of the:
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee listserv!

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