Jan 22, 2014 - For Immediate Release: 18th Annual International Day in Solidarity with Leonard Peltier Tacoma, WA
18th Annual International Day in Solidarity with
Leonard Peltier Tacoma, WA
For Immediate Release:
On Feb. 8, 2014, Native activists and supporters of political prisoner Leonard Peltier will gather in Tacoma, WA at Portland Avenue Park for the 18th Annual International Day in Solidarity with Leonard Peltier. At noon, there will be a March for Justice from Portland Ave Park to the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Tacoma (1717 Pacific Ave.) where a rally will be held.
Noon Rally: Portland Avenue Park 3513 E. Portland Ave. Tacoma, WA 98404
March: to U.S. Federal Courthouse in Tacoma 1717 Pacific Ave Tacoma, WA 98402
Speakers include: Ramona Bennett, Matt Remle, James Old Coyote, Jimbo Simmons, Chauncy Peltier and more.
Other rallies and demonstrations will be held jointly on this day, around the globe, in support of clemency for Leonard Peltier.
The rally will feature:
• Matilaja: YuPik Eskimo from Mountain Village, Alaska, with the Tacoma Chapter LPDOC and member of the Northwest American Indian Movement since 1973
• Ramona Bennett: Puyallup Tribal Elder and longtime Leonard Peltier supporter
• Chauncy Peltier: Leonard Peltier’s son
• David Bean: Puyallup Tribal Council Member
• Olivia One Feather: Hunkpapa Lakota, Standing Rock Sioux member, Native and Idle No More activist
• Deeahop Conway: Puyallup Tribal member, Tacoma Chapter LPDOC
• James OldCoyote: Sacred Water Canoe Family.
• Jimbo Simmons: AIM West
• Peter Bohmer: Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace, and faculty at the Evergreen State College
• Wakinyan Waanatan (Matt Remle): Hunkpapa Lakota, Last Real Indians
• Gary Wessels-Galbreath: Host of “View From The Shore” on KAOS Radio
• Father Bill Bichsel: Jesuit Priest, Catholic Worker Movement
• Steve Hapy: Tacoma Chapter LPDOC
• Arthur J. Miller: Northwest Regional Organizer LPDOC
Leonard Peltier (of the Anishinabe, Dakota and Lakota Nations) is a long time Native Activist and member of the American Indian Movement. In 1975 he was wrongly convicted for the 1975 shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. prosecutors have repeatedly admitted that they did not and cannot prove Leonard Peltier’s guilt, and the appellate courts have cited numerous instances of investigative and prosecutorial misconduct in this case.
As late as November 2003, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged that “Much of the government’s behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and its prosecution of Mr. Peltier is to be condemned. The government withheld evidence. It intimidated witnesses. These facts are not disputed.” The trial of the first two AIM members in this case found them not guilty for reason of self-defense. Amnesty International has renewed their campaign to free Leonard. For more information go to: http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info.
Those pushing for Leonard Peltier’s release are working to keep phone calls, e-mails and letters going to the White House during the clemency campaign. Call and/or send e-mails in support of clemency for Leonard Peltier to the White House Comments Line at (202) 456-1111; (202) 456-1112 and send e-mail through this link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ with the message, “I support clemency for Leonard Peltier.”
To learn more about the Leonard Peltier defense committee, to make donations or find out how you can help, write to Tacoma Chapter LPDOC, P.O. BOX 5464, Tacoma, WA 98415-0464 or e-mail bayou@blarg.net. Also on Facebook at http://facebook.com/tacoma.lpdoc. Subscribe to Northwest Peltier Support at nwpeltiersupport-subscribe@lists.riseup.net.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that the real motivation behind both Wounded Knee II and the Oglala firefight, and much of the turmoil throughout Indian Country since the early 1970s, was, and is, the mining companies’ desire to muffle AIM and all traditional Indian people, who sought, and still seek, to protect the land, water, and air from their thefts and depredations. In this sad and tragic age we live in, to come to the defense of Mother Earth is to be branded a criminal.”
–Leonard Peltier, “Prison Writings”
Information by Puyallup Tribal News http://www.puyalluptribalnews.net/news/view/federal-courthouse-site-of-18th-annual-international-day-in-solidarity-with/