AIM West Plans Birthday Celebration for Leonard Peltier - September 12

Native News Network Staff in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Too Many Birthdays

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AIM-WEST, and several Leonard Peltier Bay Area Support Groups are hosting a celebration on September 12 - Leonard Peltier's birthday - to honor him and to let him know he is not forgotten.

The birthday celebration will be held at the Inter-tribal Friendship House, located at 523 International Boulevard in Oakland, California. It will be held on Monday, September 12 from 6 pm to 10 pm pdt.

Peltier has been in prison since 1976. He was convicted of aiding and abetting in the death of two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. The inevitable incident occurred on the Pine Ridge Reservation in a military style assault operation led by the FBI on an unsuspecting community. The FBI were there to serve a warrant on an individual, provoked a situation that went amuck.

The celebration will include a potluck dinner, bring food to share. Also with emcee, and special guest in the house, Mr. Len Foster, spiritual advisor for Leonard, poetry and music, all drummers and singers welcome, movie to be announced, news and local speakers with announcements, ice cream and cake! Bring the entire family!

"The annual birthday party is to bring us together to recognize our brother and warrior, a father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and to also let Leonard know that he is not forgotten by the American Indian community, our friends and supporters and general public. We know one doesn't have to look far to find investigative and prosecutorial misconduct in the Peltier case," reads a statement on AIM West's website.

It's already been acknowledged by the Courts-the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, for example has gone on record stating: "Much of the government's behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and in its prosecution of Leonard Peltier is to be condemned. The government withheld evidence. It intimidated witnesses. These facts are not disputed."

posted September 2, 2011 6:10 am edt