|
Comment on this article |
Email this Article
|
|
News :: Kansas : Lawrence : Prisons : Racism |
|
Updates from Leonard Peltier Defense Committee |
Current rating: 0 |
by Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
Email: paulaostrovsky (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified!) |
27 Aug 2005
|
|
Leonard Peltier has been moved again, but at least he's out of solitary. |
Dear friends, allies and supporters of Leonard Peltier,
We have had a myriad of complications since Leonard was moved from
Leavenworth June 30th 2005, and we took charge of his Defense
Committee, it is obvious that there are forces who want to
see Leonard's Committe stopped, defunct.
We are slowly overcoming every obstacle with very few means but with
all our faith and commitment, and immensely appreciate that you still
support and care for our beloved warrior. He has gone through some
most challenging experiences in the past few months and needs us more
than ever. In case you have not received our recent updates through
other means, or have not had a chance to look at our official website
(at [1]http://leonardpeltier.org ) I am sending them to you. This
e-mail contains: Leonard's letter from solitary confinement at USP
Terre Haute (where he spent six weeks), his most recent letter from
USP Lewisburg, and the subsequent note from our Director.
Please stay in touch. Feel free to e-mail me at
[2]paulaostrovsky (at) hotmail.com if you have any questions or input
regarding our efforts.
With all my respect,
Paula Ostrovsky
LPDC Media/PR
July 30, 2005
Aho my relations,
As I sit here in my solitary confinement cell at USP Terre Haute, and
reflect over the past months events, I cant help but feel an
overwhelming sense of love and gratitude for each and every one of you
who have so diligently stood by me in this time of crisis. As you
already know by now, on June 30, 2005, I was transferred from
Leavenworth Facility, to Terre Haute USP. The reason for my transfer,
according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Administrative staff was
that the Leavenworth Facility was downgraded from maximum security
level to medium, and therefore I could not remain at Leavenworth due
to my illegal sentencing and consequent maximum security rank.
I was transferred without notification to my attorney, Barry Bachrach,
and my family. Upon my arrival to Terre Haute I was placed in solitary
confinement and was told that I would remain in solitary confinement
until my personal file arrived. My personal file arrived, but I remain
in solitary confinement allegedly for security reasons. I am confined
to a cell that is 8X 8, it has a window that is covered from the
outside with an elaborate shield that allows me to see 2-3 inches of
the sky out of the top and 2-3 inches of the ground. All prisoners are
supposed to get at least one hour of sunlight or outdoors and so I am
taken from my cell to what is called a Recreation Room (Rec Cage), and
the only sun or outdoors that I see is from some windows high up in
this large room with a few air holes in them. I am able to walk up and
down and this fulfills the one hour of sunlight or outdoors recreation
time.
Whatever the systems logic is, it seems that I wont stay in Terre
Haute for much longer and will be transferred again. I do not know
when and where, nor do I know if this cruel game will be over after
another transfer. After all, removal and relocation have been used to
break our people from the beginning of this countrys history. This
keeps my Defense Committee from taking the necessary steps to
re-establish an office, but they are doing everything they can to help
me in this most precarious and uncertain situation.
Before this situation developed, I asked Russ Redner to be the
National/International Executive Director of the LPDC. Russ is a
brother from our original Northwest AIM crew, a long time ally, and
one of the original founders of the LPDC. I have trusted Russ with my
life many times and hes proven himself at every turn. I want him to be
the last person I ever have to ask to guide the LPDC, and as such I
have given him full authority to do whatever is necessary to prevent
problems that have plagued us in the past from ever surfacing again.
He and his wife, Paula, bring a renewed energy to the LPDC. It is
essential that Russ, Barry Bachrach, Mike Kuzma, and the new team at
the LPDC be supported so they can work most effectively to achieve my
freedom and accomplish the things that need to be done for my people.
I have confidence that all of you who truly support me will extend
your vote of confidence to Russ and my new team.
A month in solitary is beginning to take a toll on me but your letters
give me much hope and encouragement. Many of you have written,
e-mailed and called USP Terre Haute, and other organizations. This has
brought some improvement to my solitary confinement. I am now getting
my medications on a daily basis, I can write out, I am receiving my
mail, and I am allowed one phone call a month. I am allowed contact
visits for those persons authorized on my visiting list. The contact
visit is restricted to a two hour period, and is conducted through a
glass pane and a phone. I am allowed to visit with my attorney without
those restrictions.
At this time I am asking that you continue to call/write/e-mail the
appropriate authorities requesting that my security level be
downgraded to medium due to my health, age and good behavior and that
I be transferred to a medium security institution with all my hard
earned prisoner privileges restored. In case I am transferred please
add the new facility (keep checking our official website:
http://www.leonardpeltier.org) to your contact list and ask them to
respect my human rights and prisoner privileges. Again, I thank you
for your support and prayers and hope that I may one day soon be among
you.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier
LEONARD HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO USP LEWISBURG
August 15, 2005
Aho My Relations,
On August 15, 2005 I was transferred to USP Lewisburg in Pennsylvania.
Life has been extra difficult for me since I was transferred from
Leavenworth. This system is designed to make one feel very powerless,
and what they are doing with me now is definitely aimed to erode my
body and spirit even more. My loved ones, and all of you, my friends
and allies who continue to support me, keep me sane and hopeful.
They say that it is in times of crisis that one can really see who
your real allies are. Those of you who have contacted the Terre Haute
Prison and the Bureau of Prisons on my behalf, keep me in your
prayers, and are supporting my Defense Committee, have made an
enormous difference in my situation. I humbly thank each and every one
of you, and firmly believe that your actions most certainly saved my
life and prevented me from living in an institution that is well known
for its extremely high crime and violence. Also, health problems
continue to plague me and the conditions I was subjected to
exacerbated them. I know deep within my heart, that if there had not
been such an outpouring of support, concern and overall outcry
regarding my arbitrary detention, I would have probably stayed in
solitary confinement for an indefinite length of time, or worse I
would not have survived in the general prisoner population. Although I
have been forced to endure many hardships, I will never surrender,
even if all that is left of me is my spirit. Your love and support
inspire me to overcome everything.
I hope that here at Lewisburg I will be able to resume living in the
general population, practicing the traditional ways and continuing
with my artwork. My defense team is preparing to go through some major
milestones. They need your support more than ever to re-establish our
office and prepare for upcoming reviews and legal battles. Since Russ
Redner, Paula Ostrovsky, and Toni Zeidan do not want to accept any
salaries or remuneration of any kind, all of your donations will go
directly to the office transfer and upcoming campaign.
I again want to express my sincere appreciation and tell you once more
that without you I am not sure I could have survived this last month.
Every day I think about and pray for a time when I will be among you,
shoulder to shoulder, fighting for justice for my people and our
Mother Earth.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Leonard Peltier
NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR:
August 19, 2005
Dear friends, family, and allies of Leonard Peltier,
I talked to Leonard today and he informed me that he is in the general
prisoner population, not in a box!!!!! He sounded very good and upbeat
considering that he just finished six weeks of tortuous solitary
confinement. He shared he almost didnt make it this time and that he
is so very thankful for your support. He added that you dont need to
contact the prison anymore as it seems he will have all his hard
earned prisoner rights reinstated, hed rather you all save your energy
for the next hurdle about which we will inform you shortly. Keep
checking in at our official website at
[3]http://www.leonardpeltier.org for updates and new information.
Also please continue writing to Leonard but be mindful of his
situation and respectful of his personal affairs.
Leonard Peltier # 89637-132
USP LEWISBURG
U.S. PENITENTIARY
P.O. BOX 1000
LEWISBURG, PA 17837
Hay hombres que luchan un dia y son buenos, hay otros que luchan
muchos anios y son mejores, pero hay los que luchan toda la vida y
esos son los indispensables.
Bertolt Brecht [emrose.gif]
References
1. http://leonardpeltier.org/
2. mailto:paulaostrovsky (at) hotmail.com
3. http://leonardpeltier.org/ |
See also:
http://leonardpeltier.org
|
This work is in the public domain |
