Tomorrow is International Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier

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Wrongfully Convicted

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee calls on supporters worldwide to protest against the injustice suffered by Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier. Gather on February 4 at every federal court house and US embassy or consulate worldwide to demand the freedom of a man wrongfully convicted and illegally imprisoned for 36 years!

Leonard Peltier is a American Indian activist wrongfully convicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Government documents show that, without any evidence at all, the FBI decided from the beginning of its investigation to 'lock Peltier into the case'.

Federal prosecutors knowingly presented false statements to a Canadian court to extradite Mr. Peltier to the United States. The statements were signed by a woman who was forced by FBI agents to say she was an eyewitness. The government has long since admitted that the woman was not present during the shootings.

Two others who were indicted and tried in the case, in a separate trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were acquitted by reason of self defense. Had Peltier been tried with his co-defendants, he likely would have been acquitted.

Unhappy with the outcome of the Cedar Rapids trial, prosecutors set the stage for Mr. Peltier's conviction. His trial was moved to an area known for its anti-Indian sentiment - Fargo, North Dakota. The trial judge had a reputation for ruling against American Indians, and a juror is known to have made racist comments during Mr. Peltier's trial.

FBI documents prove that the federal government went so far as to manufacture the so-called murder weapon, the most critical evidence in the prosecution's case. A ballistics test proved, however, that the gun and shell casings entered into evidence didn't match. The FBI hid this fact from the jury. Mr. Peltier was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. According to court records, the United States Attorney who prosecuted the case has twice admitted that no one even knows who fired the fatal shots.

Leonard Peltier is now 67 years old, in poor health and incarcerated in a federal penitentiary in Coleman, Florida.

An accomplished author and artist, Mr. Peltier is renowned for his humanitarian achievements. In 2009, Leonard was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the sixth consecutive year.

Although the courts have acknowledged evidence of government misconduct - including forcing witnesses to lie and hiding ballistics evidence reflecting his innocence - Mr. Peltier has been denied a new trial on a legal technicality. Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, 55 Members of Congress and others - including a judge who sat as a member of the court in two of Mr. Peltier's appeals - have all called for his immediate release.

The Courts may not be able to act, but President Barack Obama has the authority to do so. Please join with us to free an innocent man. On February 4, tell President Obama to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier.

Here is a listing of the events planned for the Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier worldwide: (all times are local)

BELGIUM

Brussels
February 4
Reisbeschrijving vanuit Antwerpen naar het verzamelpunt hoek Kunstlaan / Guimardstraat.

CANADA

Toronto, Ontario
19th Annual Traditional Prayer Vigil Forum and Feast for Leonard Peltier
February 6
1:00-6:00 pm
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto

ENGLAND

Birmingham
February 4
12 Noon - 2pm
Victoria Square B3 3HQ
Birmingham, England

Lincoln
February 4
2:00 pm
"Musician's for Leonard Peltier Busking and information session"
16 Strubby Close
Doddington Park, Lincoln LN6 3YU

GERMANY

Berlin
February 3
Free screening of "Incident at Oglala" (German version) and warm up for the rally on February 4
7:00 pm
Mieterladen, Kreutziger Strasse 23, 10247
Berlin-Friedrichshain

Berlin
February 4
2:00 pm
Rally for Justice
US Embassy, Pariser Platz 2, 10117
Berlin-Mitte (Brandburger Gate)

Frankfurt
February 4
10:00 - 11:30 am
Hauptwache/Zeil, Tokata-LPSG RheinMain

Hamburg
February 4
12 Noon - 2:00 pm
Consulate General of the United States
Alsterufer 27/28

IRELAND

Dublin
February 4
2:00 pm
US Embassy, 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge

UNITED STATES

Los Angeles, California
February 4
7:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Cornfield, Los Angeles Historic State Park
1760 - 1770 North Spring Street

Los Angeles, California
February 4
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Los Angeles Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Boulevard

San Francisco, California
February 6
12 Noon - 1:00 pm
Federal Building

San Jose, California
February 4
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
4th Street & Santa Clara

Boulder, Colorado
February 4
6:00 - 10:00 pm
Ozo Coffee House
1015 Pearl Street

Decatur, Georgia
February 7
7:30 pm
Push Push Theatre
121 New Street

Macon, Georgia
February 4
10:00 am
Macon - District Federal Courthouse
Mulberry and Third Street

Reno, Nevada
February 4
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Bruce Thompson Courthouse
Federal Building
400 South Virginian Street

Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 4
5:00 - 9:00 pm
Potluck & Speeches
Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice
202 Harvard

Gallup, New Mexico
February 4
12 Noon - 1:00 pm
Federal Building
Third and Hill Street

Buffalo, New York
February 4
2:00 - 3:00 pm
United States Courthouse
2 Niagara Square

New York, New York
February 4
2:00 - 6:00 pm
Riverside Church
490 Riverside Drive

Rapid City, South Dakota
February 6
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Federal Building
515 9tn Street

Spokane, Washington
February 4
4:30 pm
All Saints Lutheran Church
314 S. Spruce
southwest edge of Coeur d'Alene Park, Browne's Addition

Tacoma, Washington
February 4
12 Noon
Gather to march at Portland Avenue Park, on Portland Avenue between East 35th and East Fairbanks.
March to Federal Building

Federal Building
1:00 pm
1717 Pacific Avenue

posted February 3, 2012 2:20 pm est