Free Leonard Peltier!

November 20, 2000 10:24 AM

Free Leonard Peltier! You can send a free fax to Bill Clinton requesting executive clemency for Leonard.
posted by snakey (13 comments total)

You can also call 202-456-1111 to voice your support for executive clemency, or send an email to [e-mail]
posted by snakey at 10:30 AM on November 20, 2000

My favorite part of the Workers' World Party's Presidential platform was the line-item calling on President Clinton to grant clemency to Peltier.
posted by grimmelm at 10:44 AM on November 20, 2000

Nader made it an issue in his campaign as well.
posted by snakey at 10:47 AM on November 20, 2000

An extensive article about the Leonard Peltier case:

http://www.outsidemag.com/magazine/0795/7f_leo1.html
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 11:33 AM on November 20, 2000

The scary part is that after Clinton said that Peltier's case had reached his desk, the FBI started a massive call-in campaign against his release.

It will take a lot of calls, faxes and e-mails to drown them out, but it only takes 10 seconds to fill in the form and send a fax. It's now or never.
posted by snakey at 12:13 PM on November 20, 2000

Give me one good (that means real proof, not just somebody's say so) reason that this guy should be freed. Until then, I'll take the jury's opinion that he's a killer and deserves what he's got, spiffy website or not.
posted by CRS at 2:10 PM on November 20, 2000

Hmm, where to start? How about the ballistics tests, that were withheld from the Jury, that showed that the fatal bullet did not come from Peltier's weapon.

Satisfied? Need more? The website FAQ details the numerous problems with the prosecution's case against peltier.
posted by snakey at 2:42 PM on November 20, 2000

One other thing -- Peltier rhymes with deer. Just so there's no confusion on the pronunciation.
posted by snakey at 2:57 PM on November 20, 2000

Actually, snakey, do you have anything from an independent source? Or is everything from his support organization?
posted by CRS at 2:59 PM on November 20, 2000

If you're interested in the case, CRS, you might want to read the excellent account of the AIM/FBI shootout, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse. And Amnesty International has called for his release on the basis of the "serious concerns about the legal process which led to his conviction and sentence," although they don't consider him a prisoner of conscience. I'm not sure what level of independence you're looking for, so I'll hold off on throwing more links at you.

Even guilty people deserve a fair trial. That's supposed to be the basis of the American criminal justice system, right? If you accept the reports of witness tampering on the part of the FBI, you may come to the same conclusion I did: Peltier didn't receive a fair trial, and he shouldn't be in jail unless and until he gets one and is convicted.
posted by snarkout at 3:12 PM on November 20, 2000

CRS, that document was produced from the FBI via a FOIA request. I can provide you with plenty of sources, but by contrast, the FBI is still withholding 6,000 documents from Peltier. This after 25 years!

If you need more background on the case, you can check out Robert Redford's 'Incident at Oglala' -- a very good documentary. Amnesty International called for Peltier's release last year. They probably have something at their web site. A quick search on Leonard Peltier will give you more than the adequate resources.
posted by snakey at 3:17 PM on November 20, 2000

Clinton pretty much said he was going to grant Peltier clemency in the interview he did with Pacifica radio on Election day. You can get the link through this old thread.


posted by mikel at 7:49 PM on November 20, 2000

Clinton said that he would "decide one way or the other" -- I'd say that gives Peltier a 50/50 shot.

But now that the FBI is lobbying to keep Leonard in Jail, it's that much more important to support Leonard right now.
posted by snakey at 9:01 AM on November 21, 2000