The campaign to get Leonard Peltier out of jail is being stepped up as the number of people signing petitions and letters on behalf of the AIM activist tops 30 million.
Twenty years ago, Peltier was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for allegedly killing two FBI agents in a shootout with members of the American Indian Movement.
Peltier, now 51, insists he is innocent and his lawyers have shot numerous holes in the U.S. government’s case against him.
Peltier had a parole hearing in December and is still waiting for a decision, which could mean anything from an early release to more jail-time. If that fails, another campaign has been mounted to pressure President Bill Clinton to grant Peltier clemency.
To raise more support for Peltier, the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee is sponsoring a publicity run this summer across Europe to build support for Peltier. The run will end up at the United Nations Indigenous Peoples’ gathering in Geneva, where a prayer vigil is planned.
A tour of First Nations in Canada will be held this year to get additional backing for Peltier’s release. His supporters say they’d like the Grand Council of the Crees to go on record backing Peltier.
Letters supporting Peltier can be written to: The U.S. Parole Commission, 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420, Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.A., 20815
President Bill Clinton, White House,
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington,
D.C., U.S.A., 20050
Leonard Peltier, #89637-132, Springfield Medical Facility, 1900 West Sunshine, P.O.B. 4000, Springfield, Missouri, U.S.A., 65808
