PELTIER: BYPASS & DONATIONS; PART II

Dear Supporters:

On September 5^th Peltier provided us with an update regarding his recent bypass surgery.

“My cells ac/air going on so it wasn’t only a little chilled but under the blankets it felt nice and warm and sort of cozy…”

How heartening that Peltier feels warm and cozy.

On June 26, 1975 Jack Coler and Ron Williams felt only fear and pain and suffered a horrible death at the hands of convicted murderer Leonard Peltier.

Peltier goes on to add a couple of interesting and curious comments that we’ll let others ponder:

“I wish I could spend some time with my Great and grandchildren even some of my now middle-aged children, who believe they are the victims in this whole life. They even believe they should be given all of the attention. I keep trying to get them to understand you have to earn leadership…” (Emphasis added)

It certainly sounds like there’s trouble in paradise in the Peltier clan as he airs his dirty laundry in public. This has been a recurring theme with Peltier, witnessed by the multiple changes of his Defense Committee, directors and members, along with shifting locations and websites and public disputes between committee members and Peltier. This includes some well-intentioned attorneys who, like others in the Peltier network, could tolerate just so much of his unsettling demeanor and personality.

Heaven forbid anyone around Peltier should be given all the attention.

Really? Peltier actually lecturing on leadership?

Like those he led on June 26, 1975 into an unprovoked attack on two federal agents performing their lawful duties? Like Joe Stuntz, who followed Peltier to his own death? Peltier didn’t pass along the common sense knowledge that when you shoot at law enforcement, odds are they’re going to shoot back.

Predictably, Peltier’s message slips into the repeated pathetic begging for cash routine but ends with a peculiar comment:

“I don't have Any Personal funds, So I have to depend on you, the grass roots activist for help. Every little bit adds up so donations are needed, unless you can’t afford it (of course:) don't need to be large just many.

Framed Prints and original art work in your homes would be great talking subjects Just an idea, but purchase them from Kari Ann, the only ILPDC Art Director!” (Emphasis added)

Please note the clarification that you can “…purchase them from Kari Ann, the ONLY ILPDC Art Director!” (Also, don’t fail to note the significance of the ‘exclamation point’ that indicates the forceful utterance of strong feelings.)

This past March witnessed a legal dustup with Peltier and a couple of his detractors over the display of Peltier’s paintings for sale on public property in the State of Washington.*

Filed in federal court was an affidavit that included at page 3:

 “CHANUCEY PELTIER is the SON OF LEONARD PELTIER, runs a gallery on behalf of Leonard and is the agent for sale, lending, and distributing LEONARD PELTIER’s paintings.”

So what happened? Peltier embarrassingly whines publically that his children “believe they should be given all of the attention,” and with the emphasis of an “!” that Kari Ann is the “Only” Art Director.

Perhaps it’s just a matter of a job description. It doesn’t appear likely, but it’s possible that Chauncey Peltier runs the gallery and is not the Art Director. Nevertheless, Peltier seems to be sending a different message. We’ll let others be the judge.

Is anyone in Peltier’s camp getting the message here about the Peltier donations, finances and decades-long money machine? This issue goes back many years with more than just the NPPA asking the same questions about how Peltier’s money is raised and spent.

In February 2003, long-time committee leader, Bob Free, stated publicly, "Transparency regarding accounting and decisions will be posted on the web."

That was over a dozen years ago, but of course, it never happened. Wonder why?

For the clueless Peltier diehards and those who dare not ask the hard and valid questions, hints about Peltier’s money management have come from Peltier himself as evident from an interview over two decades ago:

“When our conversation veers back to the ordinary, the brief tension between us passes and Peltier becomes amiable again. He talks about his children, where they’re living, what they are doing, how a couple of them are forever dunning him for money. “I try to be stern with them—‘No, you’ve got to learn to be responsible, live within your means’—but I always end up saying, ‘OK, but this is the last time’” He laughs, shakes his head in self-rebuke.” ** (Emphasis added)

Curious, a convicted double murderer and lifer talking about money going to his kids.

We don’t know for certain, and probably never will, how much money Peltier is talking about, but we have to ask the question: Where is the money coming from?

Really, how much do federal inmates make? Very little we know, and even the healthy ones who are able to work for prison industries make very little as well. Some twenty-plus years ago, Peltier the “Janitor,” was making twenty-nine cents an hour.***

But then there’s the sale of Peltier’s paintings, which over twenty years ago were hawked among Hollywood elite—searching for a cause—for as much as $5,000.**** (Peltier and the Committee advertising in later years have placed the prices higher.)

The implication from Peltier’s own public record and federal court affidavit as a Plaintiff (along with his son Chauncey Peltier, referenced above) was suing for, among other things, “together with special damages for Plaintiff’s economic loss.” (Affidavit at page 18.)

Suing for “economic loss” seems to imply that Peltier is selling his artwork as part of running a business with his son. However, Bureau of Prison Rules at Peltier’s current location are straightforward. USP Coleman’s Inmate Handbook, specifically page 40, states in part, “Inmates cannot engage in any type of business and will be sanctioned for doing so.” 

Perhaps Peltier could ask the mystery Mr.X for help? We know, Mr. X, a person they all knew, and Peltier’s only alibi, that this person is the one who attacked and killed the agents and then drove off in the equally infamous red pickup.

Guess that won’t work either. Despite Peltier’s somber gaze into the camera in Redford’s film, Incident at Oglala, where he mouthed the false admission, “This story is true:” There was no Mr. X because the years-long alibi was proven to be a lie.*****

Today (the twelfth) is Peltier’s 73^rd birthday. So what!

On this day as well, Jack and Ron would have both been 70 but had their lives brutally stolen by convicted murderer Leonard Peltier. They were robbed of their next 42 birthdays.

There are countless reasonable and thoughtful people who understand that the horrible mistreatment of First Americans is a blight on America’s history.******

Nonetheless, to even suggest that a free Peltier would atone for any of that, borders on the obscene. Peltier, and those who have used him for their own purposes, those who have supported him only to be cast aside, subscribe simply to the myth and folklore that has become so entrenched that Peltier is incapable of seeing the truth.

Peltier has only himself and his violent criminal acts to blame for his fabricated martyrdom and self-induced torment, while he remains were he deservedly belongs. 

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”

Ed Woods

* http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2017/04/peltier-update-review.html

**, ***,**** https://www.outsideonline.com/1835141/martyrdom-leonard-peltier

(last accessed 9/9/2017)

***** The history of Mr. X:

http://www.noparolepeltier.com/movie.html

http://www.noparolepeltier.com/interview.html http://www.noparolepeltier.com/lie.html

****** See “Correcting wrongs of the past” that has been on the homepage since the creation of the No Parole Peltier Association and its website on April 30, 2000.

PELTIER: TRIPLE BYPASS & DONATIONS: PART I

Dear Supporters:

On September 2^nd Peltier sent a message that he recently underwent triple bypass surgery.

Bypass surgery is a fairly common procedure today with approximately 200,000 performed yearly.

Jack Coler and Ron Williams were both in their late twenties when they became victims of an unprovoked attack by AIM cowards and were brutally murdered by Leonard Peltier in 1975. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Peltier was convicted of murder and aiding and abetting and his conviction and sentence, having gone through many appeals, has never been changed. Peltier’s public statements over the years have only helped reinforce his remorseless guilt. (You’ve heard them before so there’s no need to repeat them here again).

Jack and Ron, had they not been mercilessly cut down in their prime, would have faced the normal aging process just as Peltier is now. Although they were both in excellent physical condition and would no doubt have taken care of their health, issues do arise. What Jack and Ron didn’t have was the opportunity to finish their careers and enjoy a well-deserved retirement and all the years with their spouses, children, and grandchildren. Peltier robbed them of that wonderful opportunity they so deserved.

Peltier, soon to be 73, received this operation courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the American taxpayers. For that, he should be grateful and thankful the procedure was successful and that he will only mildly suffer during recovery. Jack and Ron, victims of point-blank gunshots to the face, had no chance to survive. Instead, both suffered a horrible death.

As with the vast majority of Peltier messages, there’s always the push for money.

This one, like most others, begs for donations, made through his website, to “fund his legal struggle.” The website offers that the uninformed can donate through PayPal.

To go back a few years—July 4, 2004 to be precise—Peltier’s “Defense Committee” lamented that Peltier had been suspended from PayPal for violating its “offensive material policy.” They complained, “Designating Leonard Peltier as being ‘notorious for committing murderous acts,’ PayPal has now deprived us of our online fundraising capability.” That was then.

Peltier’s committee subsequently relocated and changed its website and personnel (which has happened many times over the years) and was able to worm its way back into the PayPal system.

PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy has changed slightly over the years but still contains the provision preventing “the financial exploitation of a crime” which may have been part of the reason Peltier was removed in 2004.

PayPal encourages users to report potential violations of this policy. For example, a double convicted murderer using PayPal to raise money. If users have a question about whether a type of transaction may violate the Acceptable Use Policy, they can email PayPal's Compliance Department at: aupviolations@paypal.com

Also, there has been much discussion and debate over the years about Peltier soliciting “tax-deductible” donations. Sometimes he had donations filtered through third party operations. At other times, Peltier dropped the “tax-deductible” claims, although he would never publicly admit the reasons. We have a suspicion why it was dropped in the past.

(The latest Peltier website, [link available on the NPPA home page], does not mention tax-deductible donations. However, a review of the website material still shows that it is replete with the same fabrications, falsehoods, myth and in some areas, outright lies that have been proven false time and again. All of which have been extensively reviewed and refuted on the NPPA website.*)

Yet, as recent as just nine months ago, this was posted on the Internet:**

“2016 Human rights week for Leonard Peltier, December 4-10 in Washington, DC.  We need your help like never before. Please make a tax-deductible donation. No amount is too small. Please also widely share this fundraiser.  The Peltier Defense Committee is a project of the Indigenous Rights Center, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (Tax ID # 81-1252535).”

This appears to be in violation of IRS regulations. Funneling money through other entities to make it appear they are legitimately tax-deductible should raise some concerns and questions.

The Internal Revenue Code is clear enough:

“A section 501(c)(3) must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, such as the creator or the creator’s family, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests. No part of the net earnings of the section 501(c)(3) organization may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. A private shareholder or individual is a person having a personal and private interest in the activities of the organization.”

It shouldn’t be surprising that the ‘Director’ information for the Indigenous Rights Center, 202 Harvard Dr., SE #5, Albuquerque, NM, 87114 revealed that the Directors are/were Delaney Bruce, Peter Clark, Kari A. Boushee and Peltier’s son, Chauncey Peltier. 

Leonard Peltier successfully recovered and his health may improve after the recent bypass surgery.

Jack and Ron were murdered and have been dead for 42 years.

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”

Ed Woods

*For example, from the Peltier homepage: “People are commonly set free due to a single constitutional violation, but Peltier—innocent and faced with a staggering number of constitutional violations—has yet to receive equal justice.” Reality check: If there were one Constitutional violation we would likely not be discussing Leonard Peltier today, or ever.

http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#critical

Also, as the Court of Appeals stated: “It is only where the trial court excludes relevant evidence without sufficient justification that the defendant‘s constitutional right to compulsory process is violated.” http://www.noparolepeltier.com/585.html

Suffice to say that Peltier’s claims do not stand up to scrutiny.

** https://www.plumfund.com/charity-fundraising/2016-Peltier-Week-DC

 (Last accessed 9/8/17: Posted by ILPDC Co-Director Peter Clark. It should be noted that the ILPDC (and its predecessor committees) have publicly stated that Leonard Peltier approves all postings, press releases, etc.)