The LPDC on Ward Churchill

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From the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
February 08, 2005
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THE ANTI-AIM TIDE IS RISING

All of us who surround those who were involved in AIM
since the early 70's have known it was coming, or rather
“they” would come for them again. There is no shock in
the recent campaign to discredit Ward Churchill. Most of
all, we are sure Mr. Churchill himself knew it was coming
sooner or later. We are sure Ward is at home asking
himself questions such as: why now, what will be gained by
disabling me at this time and how will this negatively affect
the movement? Most of all, like any good warrior, we hope
he finds himself asking how he can make this work for the
movement’s benefit. Mr. Churchill has co-authored books
which guaranteed he would be attacked by his favorite
organization, the FBI.

His contributions academically to the Indian movement,
whether it be AIM or a generation of like minded thinkers,
has been vast. Without books such as Agents of
Repression: The FBI’s Secret Wars Against the Black
Panther Party and the American Indian Movement and The
COINTELPRO Papers: Documents from the FBI’s Secret
War Against Dissent in the United States our generate
on and those younger would not have a map by which we
can predict the government’s response and how they will
work to stop Indians being outspoken. Simply put, we
firmly believe that many of AIM’s figureheads are modern
day Indian heroes. We cannot sit by and watch our
government continue to destroy Native Americans.

Mr. Churchill’s writings are motivational in a way the
government does not appreciate. His writings are critical of
the government. We believe any educated Indian would
have to agree with his works and themes though not
necessarily embrace every point. We believe we need
people such as Mr. Churchill who are not afraid to exercise
their First Amendment Right of Freedom of Speech.
American Indians need to feel free to speak.

Please note the newspaper reporters seem to forget how
long ago Mr. Churchill wrote the 9/11 piece. It is also
important to note how the mainstream press has totally
misinterpreted \and misreported Mr. Churchill’s statements
and intent. We challenge those who have not read Mr.
Churchill to read what he has written and draw their own
conclusions and not be swayed by the propaganda being
spread by the mainstream media.

Our question is why all of a sudden is the press attaching
Mr. Churchill for issues which happened more than a year
ago? This is not news, these are old issues. We should all
be asking ourselves why now. Our belief is, that as we
await the results of the John Graham extradition hearing,
the United States wishes to raise anti-AIM sentiments
hoping to use the John Graham extradition as a vehicle to
attack people such as Ward Churchill and Leonard Peltier.

We would like to remind the older generation of AIM of
allegiance and honor. Don’t forget, years of knowing each
other, and years of trying to have Leonard Peltier freed
means there is a spider web of relationships which the
government is clearly trying to unentangle and frame
Leonard as a patsy.

We are not saying Anna Mae does not deserve justice. We
believe she was a loyal AIM woman and she should be
treated as such. We believe that those involved in what
happened to her owe her family answers, very soon. We
hope her family still believes as she did, in the cause and
rights of Indians. Please beware the government will use
Anna Mae’s murder, 9/11 and anything else they find
inflammatory right now to turn the tide against AIM and
against Leonard Peltier. Our phones are tapped, of this we
are sure, so the FBI clearly knows lately those at the LPDC
have made some great contacts internationally. We assure
you they want to turn the tide against Leonard and AIM
right now, they must undo all our work, they must keep us
down. Remember these guys earn a paycheck to suppress
us, we have nothing but pocket lint because it is our lives.
But if we do not let the rising anti-AIM tide drown our
spirits we can still win. We say good luck Mr. Churchill.
We personally like the way you exercise your first
amendment rights.

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