Leonard Peltier Support Update

"PeltierSupport" DIGEST
January 21, 2005

We currently have some exciting legal strategies going for Leonard.
There are more to come. We urge you to regularly (& frequently)
visit our Web site at http://www.peltiersupport.org for up-to-date
information on the Peltier case.

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FOIA Actions
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The FBI was ordered on August 15, 2003, to begin releasing documents from its
Minneapolis Field Office by December 2004. On December 30, 2004, the FBI
produced 5,112 pages of material. However, the pages released consisted of
Mr. Peltier’s 1977 trial transcript, as well as the trial transcript from US v.
Robideau-Butler. Incredibly, the FBI withheld 144 pages from these transcripts
--documents that are already a matter of public record -- on the basis that
they were exempt from disclosure. Huh?

The Peltier attorneys sent a letter to the judge who issued the above Order, to
ask her to reconsider her August decision. Remember, we know that the FBI
has 142,579 pages of material that have never been made available to us. The
Minneapolis Field Office alone has 90,000 pages. The data maintained by this
Field Office are particularly important because this was the office in which the
RESMURS investigation was based.

Incredibly, the judge denied our request, disagreeing that the FBI has made a
bad faith response to her Order. Perhaps she believes we've waited nearly 30
years only to receive Peltier's trial transcript? Go figure.

SEE the judge's ruling (PDF document):

http://www.peltiersupport.org/uploads/NelsonReply.pdf.

Other information on FOIA actions (point to & click on "FOIA Actions")
are located at:

http://www.peltiersupport.org/Docs/Historical/PostConviction.html.

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Illegal Sentence
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The government has responded to our Motion, filed in the federal District Court
(North Dakota), contending that Leonard's sentence was illegal. The
government's brief of December 29 & our reply brief of January 17, 2005, are
available for viewing on our Web site. Access all pertinent documents
concerning this Motion (point to & click on "Illegal Sentence") at:

http://www.peltiersupport.org/Docs/Historical/PostConviction.html.

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In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
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Today, on the second anniversary of his murder in Houston, TX, we'd like you
to remember & emulate Robert Standing Deer Wilson. At great personal risk,
Standing Deer exposed a plot to assassinate Leonard Peltier. On January 22,
1980, Leonard was convicted & given the maximum sentence for the prison escape
prompted by the government plot against him. See Standing Deer's affidavit
at:

http://www.peltiersupport.org/Docs/Historical/FOIA/StandingDeer.html.

Standing Deer stood firm against the death penalty & fought tirelessly for prisoners'
rights, in particular for the religious rights of Indigenous prisoners. Follow Standing
Deer's example. Speak out against injustice everywhere. Be infused with his
spirit, the spirit of Crazy Horse. In particular, be firm & constant -- as was
Standing Deer -- in your cries for freedom for Leonard Peltier.

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How You Can Help
==============================

Four years ago, on January 20, 2001, then President Bill Clinton left office without
either approving or denying a grant of Executive Clemency to Leonard Peltier. The
legal team's petition for clemency is still pending:

http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome/Clemency.html.

Please also remember that February 6th marks the 29th anniversary of Leonard's
arrest in Canada. He has waited nearly 3 decades for justice. It is incumbent on us
to see that Leonard knows freedom once again.

There are many ways by which Peltier supporters can assist the legal team.
Visit http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome/Donate.html to find out how you can
donate not only funds, but your time & energy to the struggle.

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