NOTE:

As of 12.16.96, Leonard continues to be in considerable pain from surgery performed on his jaw. He continues to be harassed by prison officials. Your input via the form at the bottom of this page would be much appreciated.

August 19, 1996

Dear Friend,

Dennis J. Banks, American Indian Movement (AIM) National Field Director has agreed to the '97 "Bring Peltier Home" Campaign to free Leonard Peltier from prison. You will find here information on the background of the Peltier case, an overview of the campaign and suggestions of events you can organize in your area. Be creative in devising effective ways of gaining local public awareness of Peltier's situation and the need for their support. This is a call to action! Be part of it!

1. Encourage your local community members to call and fax the White House and demand executive clemency for Leonard Peltier. Hot Line: (202) 456- 1111. Each call and fax is recorded and does make an impact.

2. Write letters to President Clinton and state senators and representatives urging their support.

3. Organize an event to bring local public awareness of the case.

4. Participate in and be part of a "Bring Peltier Home" event in your area.

5. Already being planned is the June '97 "Bring Peltier Home" Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the "Run for Freedom" from Cincinnati, Ohio to Tulsa.
6. Be part of one or both of these activities.

We'd like to hear what you plan to do in your community and the results of the actions (i.e. petition signatures, letters written and sent, concerts and, runs scheduled, etc.)

"Bring Peltier Home" tee-shirts and bumperstickers designed specifically for this '97 Campaign will soon be available. An order form will be displayed for those interested. Monetary donations can be sent to "Bring Peltier Home" office at the above address.

Your contribution goes directly to the Campaign operations as ALL workers are VOLUNTEERS. Please feel free to make and distribute copies of this information. We look forward to hearing from you!

It was on June 26, 1975 that unknown assailants opened fire on AIM (American Indian Movement) campgrounds near the Jumping Bull Ranch in Oglala, South Dakota. The Oglala firefight lasted nine hours, and when it was over, one Native security person and two agents of the FBI lay dead. Following the largest manhunt in FBI history - Dino Butler, Robert Robideaux and Leonard Peltier were charged with the killing of the agents. Robideaux and Butler were tried in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and found not guilty by reason of justifiable self-defense.

Meanwhile, under advice from elders, Leonard fled to Canada. There he was arrested and extradited under eye-witness affidavits manufactured by the FBI. The government has since admitted that these affidavits were false.

Peltier was tried in North Dakota before an all-white jury but was not allowed to use the self-defense theory. He was also denied use of evidence which pointed to his innocence. This evidence was finally released under the Freedom of Information Act, from the FBI files, seven years after his conviction.

In his summation argument, the U.S. Prosecutor, Lynn Crook, accused Peltier of firing the fatal bullets that killed the agents. Leonard was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. Seventeen years later, on November 9, 1993, Crook (still the U.S. Prosecutor) admitted to the reviewing court: "We don't know who killed the agents." This admission was before the Eighth Circuit Court on Peltier's last appeal. (The Court of Appeals in 1986 stated that FBI misconduct in the case had been a "clear abuse of the investigative process" - coercion of witnesses, the knowing use of perjury, the fabrication of evidence and the suppression of evidence which would have proven his innocence.)

Yet, Peltier is still in prison!

Recent Developments

• September 1995: Newly discovered radio communications reports show FBI agents in the area of the shoot-out 20 minutes before the time the government and FBI originally said they were present, demonstrates further that the firefight was orchestrated by the FBI and that the agents Coler and Williams had back-up nearby and were not "trapped and alone". A second Freedom of Information Act request was generated.

• December 11, 1995: A second parole hearing results in Peltier being commended for his good behavior n prison and his work with Native people.

• March 18, 1996: The United States Parole Commission denies Peltier's bid for parole stating that he has not given a specific factual account of his actions "that is consistent with the jury's verdict of guilt". How can an innocent man do this? The denial is currently being appealed.

1. Collect 100 million signatures world wide promoting the release of Peltier.

2. Encourage international actions to promote awareness of Leonard Peltier's case:

• RUNNING EVENTS - 100 mile runs, 1000 mile runs, Cross Country Runs.
• WALKS/PETITION DRIVES - to capitol cities world wide, to American embassies.
• COMMUNITY "TEACH-IN'S" - discussions and video showings of documentaries about Peltier's case at schools, churches, cultural centers.
• DECLARATIONS/PROCLOMATIONS OF PELTIER DAY - and other announcements and written documents from governors, mayors, organizations, churches, tribal nations and others.
• WATER EVENTS - Boating/canoeing petition drives
• MUSICAL EVENTS/CONCERTS
• DISTRIBUTION OF PELTIER LITERATURE

3. BRING PELTIER HOME!

• TEE-SHIRT all tee-shirts ar $15.00 except XXL which are $18.00

• AIM shirts are available in black only. (Three color design is a hoop with hanging feathers and lettering: "American Indian Movement - Still Strong"

• "Bring Peltier Home" tees.

• AIM BUMPER STICKERS -- $2.00
  MUSIC/VIDEO

• "Still Strong" cassette (by Dennis J. Banks) songs include: "The AIM and Peltier Songs" plus more! $10.00

• "Still Strong" music video $20.00

ITEM DESCRIPTION________________SIZE___________QUANTITY______PRICE ______________________________________________________________________

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SHIPPING COSTS (please allow 3-5 weeks for delivery)
less that $15.00 add $2.50
for orders of $20-$50.00 add $4.00
for orders of $51-$120.00 add $8.00
for orders over $120.00 add 7% to the total

Shipping________________________ Tax 6% ________________________

(if outside of USA) add $8.00 ________________________

I wish to make an additional donation to BPH '97 ________________________

Total Amt. ________________________

Make money order (please no checks) payable to "Bring Peltier Home" and mail your order to:

Name ________________________________________________________________

Complete Mailing Address ______________________________________________________________________

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fax __________________________ date ___________________________________

WHEREAS, Leonard Peltier has spent twenty (20) years in prison for what appears to be an erroneous and/or wrongful conviction; and,

WHEREAS, I wish to add my name to the list of people, including many members of Congress, Amnesty International, The National Congress of American Indians, The National Association of Christians and Jews, 78 World religious leaders including Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Nelson Mandela and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, who support Leonard Peltier's Petition for Executive Clemency,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, the undersigned, DEMAND AND SUPPORT THE REQUEST BY WAY OF PETITION FOR EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY FILED BY LEONARD PELTIER AND REQUEST THAT HE BE SO RELEASED INSTANTLY.

NAME_____________________ADDRESS___________________________DATE

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PLEASE RETURN TO THE SIGNED PETITION FORM TO:

A worldwide gathering of AIM Chapters and Support Groups, LPSG's and other supporters for Leonard Peltier's freedom will gather in Tulsa, Oklahoma for an Action Conference to discuss their present efforts to assist in the release of Peltier and to set strategy for the next year. In the event of Peltier's release, this conference will be a welcoming home celebration and will discuss specific actions regarding issues of indigenous people.

To receive registration information which will be available in December 1996, please send a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to the

For more information on the "RUN FOR FREEDOM," Cincinnati to Tulsa in June, 1997 send SASE to: