Eric Seitz, Attorney for Leonard Peltier
21 August 2009
The Bush Administration holdovers on the U.S. Parole Commission today adopted the position of the FBI that anyone who may be implicated in the killings of its agents should never be paroled and should be left to die in prison. Despite judicial determinations that the unrepentant FBI fabricated evidence and presented perjured testimony in Leonard Peltier’s prosecution; despite a jury’s acquittal on grounds of self-defense of two co-defendants who were found to have engaged in the same conduct of which Mr. Peltier was convicted; despite Mr. Peltier’s exemplary record during his incarceration for more than 33 years and his clearly demonstrated eligibility for parole; despite letters and petitions calling for his release submitted by millions of people in this country and around the world including one of the judges who ruled on his earlier appeals; and despite his advanced age and deteriorating health, the Parole Commission today informed Mr. Peltier that his “release on parole would depreciate the seriousness of your offenses and would promote disrespect for the law,” and set a reconsideration hearing in July 2024.
This is the extreme action of the same law enforcement community that brought us the indefinite imprisonment of suspected teenage terrorists, tortures, and killings in CIA prisons around the world and promoted widespread disrespect for the democratic concepts of justice upon which this country supposedly was founded. These are the same institutions that have never treated indiginous peoples with dignity or respect or accepted any responsibility for centuries of intolerence and abuse.
At his parole hearing on July 28th Leonard Peltier expressed regret and accepted responsibility for his role in the incident in which the two FBI agents and one Native American activist died as the result of a shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Mr. Peltier emphasized that the shootout occurred in circumstances where there literally was a war going on between corrupt tribal leaders, supported by the government, on the one hand, and Native American traditionalists and young activists on the other. He again denied — as he as always denied — that he intended the deaths of anyone or that he fired the fatal shots that killed the two agents, and he reminded the hearing officer that one of his former co-defendants recently admitted to having fired the fatal shots, himself.
Accordingly, it is not true that Leonard Peltier participated in “the execution style murders of two FBI agents,” as the Parole Commission asserts, and there never has been credible evidence of Mr. Peltier’s responsibility for the fatal shots as the FBI continues to allege. Moreover, given the corrupt practices of the FBI, itself, it is entirely untrue that Leonard Peltier’s parole at this juncture will in any way “depreciate the seriousness” of his conduct and/or “promote disrespect for the law.”
We will continue to seek parole and clemency for Mr. Peltier and to eventually bring this prolonged injustice to a prompt and fair resolution.
Another dark day in divided states history.I myself as a redskin feel sad that the parole of Leonard was again denied.This countries past,present and future was built on violence and with that being americas very foundation this is for which it stands.Ask yourslf the question if those agents would’ve shot and killed some indians that day in 75,would they have even went to prison?Lets face the sad facts about american justice.A white life is worth more than an Indians,Black or mexican’s life and it is only proven time and time again.The same chains are shackeled ever so tighter with this decision and I truly feel no faith in this country for it is the winner’s and not the loser’s who write history.Rule number 1 know thy enemy.Instead of building the spirit of the native indian the federal government has time and time again oppressed,and brought contempt upon the minority sector’s of this country.No jobs no health care no future is where we are in this moment.Control the money control the people,divide and conquor.Isolate and seperate and keep all of us thinking it will all get better.I am so ready to fight for truth and if that means being an activist,rebel to right the wrongs I will do so.The future looks dim but there is hope cause more and more people are feeling like I do.Until pine ridge stops looking like a third world and all political prisoners are free I will fight.Leonard you truly are an inspiration and whether free or in jail we are all doing time.We are the wind the white eye can’t see us but they will always know were there.My prayers are with you chia!The drum is our heartbeat our voices must be heard stay strong it’s a test of our faith.We are with you in your suffering and I could’nt be on a better road for the journey will be long.MITAKUYE OYASIN…..! Blake apacheajax Martin
The recent decision by Leonard Peltier’s parole commission is heart-breaking. It is obvious that corrupt law enforcement is desperate to save face, in front of an international audience (Leonard’s high profile)….And yet, in this country, so many don’t know about the case, beacause AP (associated press, under Reuthers) has buried the story, hoping Peltier will be forgotten. It’s time to revive the story in a big way. Rachel Corrie’s story was re-enacted by theatre and travelled around the country. Finally, the story was told by a film “RACHEL”, which has had significant impact on emerging consciousness concerning the plight of Palestinians and activists who try to help them. I say Friends of Peltier needs to do a re-enactment of what would be a fair trial for the world to see (travelling guerilla theatre or Big Movie(David Geffen?) depicting the evidence and tampering of evidence by the FBI in Peltier’s case.
I recently went to see “The Cove”, Ric O’Barry’s film about the dolphin slaughter in Japan. The film is a powerful medium for waking up the world, with guidelines on how to stop such cruelty….What is happening to Leonard peltier is cruel, beyond tolerance. I hope that we, as critical mass, can find new ways to re-ignite love and reason, during these apalling times of injustices, hypocrisy, ignorance and destructiveness. Hey Mr. President, Got Hope for us? Free Leonard Peltier. No pardon needed. He was never guilty. Onward, with getting the TRUTH out!
My heartfelt dedication to Leonard’s freedom, Najma
Najma you are right the feds only wanna save face and not have to right the wrongs opposed upon the poorest people in society.It’s the same one’s that have peltier locked up that let sammy the bull gravano free not a day in prison and he killed 20 or more people but for his telling on john gotti for the feds he’s walkin around a free man.Let me tell you I feel if they can let scum like that on the streets god knows who else these feds let out.FREE LEONARD AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS. F.T.G APACHEAJAX