"WIND CHASES PRESTON" A prediction. Peltier Update

Dear NPPA Supporters:

The young Preston Randolph, college student and aspiring director, continues on his remake of Incident at Oglala under the new documentary title, “Wind Chases the Sun.” Catchy title even if the geophysics is implausible.

Preston recently stated of Wind; “This film with the new information and very new and very shocking testimonies from former FBI, BIA and BOP as well as key witnesses will be revealing for the first time the horrific truth…we will be blowing this case apart…etc., etc.,” You get the point.

(Side note: If Wind includes, for the BOP, the love-affair scenario between Leavenworth guard Bruce Smith and Peltier, it will lack credibility; nothing Smith claims has any relevance to Peltier’s conviction, sentence, appeals or feigned innocence. It would amount to meaningless filler.* Also, if Wind includes, for the FBI, anything from former FBI agent M. Wesley Swearingen, it will contain even less credibility. Swearingen’s ramblings have covered all the bases from the incredible to the bizarre [he knew of the plot to kill JFK…]. Swearingen adds nothing of substance to the Peltier debate except that he did say “Why does anyone have to know who actually fired the fatal shots? I can assure you that if I had been in such a shoot-out there would have been a hell of a lot of dead Indians.” “Peltier is a joke, as is Bob Robideau.”** )

Early on I exchanged emails with Preston but it became apparent that confusing agenda with facts was problematic; it’s much easier to pursue the folklore.

With his “expansive team of researchers and producers,” (in other words, Preston and buddy or two), they plan to undo nearly 37 years of intense scrutiny, multiple trials and hearings, dozens of appeals and thousands upon thousands of pages of reports, documentation and transcripts that will produce “…documents, testimonies, affidavits and interviews you have never heard of…”

Wonderful threat, and a tall challenge that cannot be reached, and here’s why: Every single question concerning June 26, 1975 has been asked and answered, and the fundamental facts of what happened that day cannot be altered no matter how deep the mythology surrounding Peltier becomes. The substance of what the Peltier jury heard from the “critical witnesses” establish the sequence of events that began with the overheard radio calls from Agent Williams himself that they were about to come under fire, and then were, as those nearby responded to their aid. But too late, as Joe Stuntz and Norman Brown fired on the first responding agent and BIA officers.

We don’t have to search too terribly far for some basic facts, just ask Leonard, and quote directly from him perhaps the most crucial single sentence in this entire, nearly
four-decade-old drama. “I seen Joe when he pulled it out of the trunk and I looked at him when he put it on, and he gave me a smile.” (ITSOCH p552)

That was an FBI jacket (and thanks for the smile, Joe), as they stood there with two dead agents at their feet, their faces blown to bits, (and by the way, they were both physically moved; shot in the face but found face down establishes that; the crime scene photos are self-evident ). Then Peltier and others stole their weapons and one of the vehicles, and using Peltier’s words again, “We gotta get out of here.”

And yes, the prediction. Mr. X.

For nearly twenty years Peltier had an alibi and stuck to it as it was chronicled in ITSOCH with even a cameo appearance in “Incident.” Yes, Matthiessen and Redford both bit into that rotten apple. Quoting Peltier… “This story is true. But I can’t and will not say anything about it. For me to testify against anybody-or even mention-try to get somebody else in trouble-is wrong. And I won’t do it. Because it’s against my belief, it’s against my religion, my culture. It’s against everything that we’ve fought for or stood up for. (Everything, of course, but the truth.)

Really, how quaint that he felt so strongly about not identifying Mr. X, even though it turned out to be one huge lie (just ask Dino Butler).

So, how will young Preston handle this in the blockbuster “documentary” Wind Chases? Ignore it (as Peltier did, never mentioning Mr. X or the infamous red pickup truck in his autobiography, Prison Writings)? Claim, like so many others, that it must have been another government conspiracy of some sort or anther? (Tough to do with all the admissions from Butler, Robideau and Peltier.) Or try to spin it yet in some other direction. Odds are it won’t even be mentioned.

Perhaps a tile change would be appropriate. “Wind Chases Mr. X” would work.

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
No Parole Peltier Association

*See NPPA Blog: Peltier “Shot” in Prison dated August 28, 2011 re Bruce Smith.
**See Editorial Essay #28; M. Wesley Swearingen: No longer supports Leonard Peltier,
http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#swear, and the “1 Star” reviews, by this writer, on Amazon.com, of Swearingen’s two hopeless and ineffective books.

BULLET POINTS...PELTIER

From recent Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee infograms:

 Happy Birthday: As Peltier reaches his 67th birthday, now approaching the septuagenarian level, apparently he will be celebrating this one in the “hole” at Lewisburg for his recent “shots” violating prison rules (please see previous Blog). Certainly celebrating one’s birthday in solitary confinement is no picnic, but placing this in its proper perspective, Jack Coler and Ron Williams never had the opportunity to even celebrate their 29th and 28th birthday’s respectively, thanks to Peltier and his AIM cowards at Jumping Bull on June 26, 1975.

 Benedetti Prize: A group created in 2009 selected Peltier for a “human rights prize.” Perhaps they could also select those Peltier and his Committee have honored in the past as well, Wesley Cook (aka Mumia), and Timothy McVeigh (please see http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#10). Recognizing that using Peltier and Peace in the same sentence is an oxymoron, this effort is as meaningless as Peltier being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (please see
http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#standing)

 Powerful Video: Really? Former BOP corrections officer Bruce Smith proves that Peltier supporters have a difficult time getting their facts straight. (Please see NPPA Blog 8/28/11)

 Disciplinary Transfer: The only inmate in the Federal Bureau of Prisons who thinks he’s entitled to dictate the terms of his confinement is Leonard Peltier. (Well, not really, there are probably a few others.) But Peltier and the Committee are “demanding” (while they suggest hounding the newly appointed BOP Acting Director…which, of course, is always going to endear themselves within the system—Peltier and the Committee just haven’t figured out how to approach these matters yet—no surprise there), that he be transferred “to a medium security facility in close proximity to Leonard’s family and Nation.” However, here’s another thought: the “Powerful Video” mentioned several times the extreme high temperatures of Peltier’s confinement at Lewisburg, so, in order to remove that concern maybe the BOP could consider another facility where high temperatures would not be a problem: FCI Ray Brook. Ray Brook is in the Northeast corner of upstate New York and a stone’s throw from the Canadian border. Excessive heat shouldn’t be a problem there.

 We the People: Regards petitions announced by the White House on its website. Here’s one: Convicted felons who have had their convictions dissected thirty or more times in various courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, twice, should serve out their complete sentences. And in Peltier’s case the additional seven consecutive years for his armed escape from Lompoc…just in case anyone (meaning Peltier and the Committee), forgot that little detail. Finding 5,000 people to sign that petition wouldn’t be much of a chore…but pestering the White House would not be appropriate in the Peltier case.

 Clemency: Not a chance here. The President, a Harvard educated lawyer, and someone who has promoted a pro-law enforcement agenda, would easily recognize the facts surrounding Peltier’s conviction, and how many times Peltier has changed his version of the facts (let’s not forget Mr. X as well), and understand that Peltier does not deserve any compassion for his crimes. (Please see “Dear President Obama” on the NPPA home page http://www.noparolepeltier.com/index.html)

 Walk for Human Rights: “The walk will depart from Alcatraz Island…” Of course they presumably mean to walk to the boat to take them to the mainland to continue their demonstration. Although this once barren 22-acre outcropping in San Francisco Bay, named in 1775 by a Spanish explorer, has served as a military outpost, a fort, military prison, federal prison and finally a national park, means many things to many people, depending certainly on one’s perspective. Former inmates and convicted felons reminisce the historical significance of places like Leavenworth…Peltier’s long time residence; Alcatraz, the Rock, or Lewisburg, The Big House. For many Native Americans, however, it marked one of the seminal moments in a search for full equality and identity and arguably central to the beginning of the native rights movement. However, during the 1969 takeover, which included many non-natives as well, they pretty much trashed the place. Hopefully this demonstration will be orderly and peaceful as they attempt to hawk the Peltier mythology and folklore.

 Labor with Labor: A catchy phrase with a misguided goal. Unions are about job preservation in tough times and it will be surprising if any union gives the Peltier issue a second glance.

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods

PELTIER "SHOT" IN PRISON...Bruce Smith

PELTIER “SHOT” IN PRISON…Bruce Smith

In a recent brief online video (http://vimeo.com/27422654) the narrator begins with the typical and tired Peltier folklore that we’ve been hearing for decades (none of which is worth repeating here), then goes on to pass along more Peltier fabrications.

The focus of the piece is Bruce Smith who introduces himself as a former U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) corrections officer between 1982 and 2003 at Leavenworth Penitentiary.

Bruce Smith describes, and the narrator clarifies, two “shots” (prison term for an inmate’s violation of prison rules) received by Peltier on 6/27/11 that landed him in solitary confinement for six months. Six months in the “hole” is pretty serious by all accounts.

Smith begins by claiming that the FBI “calls all the shots,” and is the “ultimate authority” within the BOP. This is a ridiculous conclusion that cannot be supported whether Smith spent twenty-one years at Leavenworth, or not. Although the BOP is part of the Department of Justice (as is the FBI), an FBI agent (or two) from a nearby FBI office is assigned to the institution to investigate crimes by and against inmates and personnel. Other than presenting the results of those investigations to the appropriate United States Attorney’s office, they have no control or authority in the prisons.

Smith and the narrator describe the two violations, possession of currency (a 20-pound Scottish note) and an assault on a guard. The video briefly displays two prison incident reports.

Although the video only shows excerpts of two written reports, it was encouraging to find both documents on the LPDOC website…so we can get to the actual facts and truth of these incidents.

Smith describes the “bogus” shot of possessing money because Peltier’s mail would routinely be processed from the mailroom to “SIS.” According to Smith, the intelligence unit reviews the mail before being sent to the inmate. Which is a true statement.

However, the actual report from Officer Wagner reveals that Peltier was sending a letter to someone that included a 20-Pound Scottish currency bill and that, “In the enclosed letter, inmate Peltier admits to receiving the bank note in the mail.”

So, if Bruce Smith is correct and SIS allowed the currency to get to Peltier and then Peltier was given a “shot,” or punished, for possessing currency, then that would be troubling. However…that’s assuming—of course—that Peltier is even telling the truth in his letter about how he got the Scottish note in the first place. Peltier telling the truth has always been a problem and assessing his truthfulness would be like trying to measure the immeasurable with a rubber ruler. Just ask him about Mr. X.

Smith, and the narrator, then criticize another officer for touching “wires leading to a light fixture,” describing “bare wires on a light fixture,” and according to retired corrections officer Bruce Smith, his fellow officer was “not smart enough to realize that two bare wires will shock you,” and that the officer himself should get the “shot” (punishment) instead of Peltier.

Well, that’s not quite what happened. Officer Hamilton’s report stated, “The wires were located on the wall above the corner post of the upper bunk. I attempted to pull the wires out of the wall. Due to my correctional experience in the past I have witnessed inmates conceal contraband in the wall of a cell and attach a wire, or string to the contraband. This is so the item may be retrieved at a later time.” Then, while attempting to pull the wires from the wall, Officer Hamilton received an electric shock.

Smith and the narrator pointed out that another inmate had been removed from Peltier’s cell two weeks before. Assuming that was the case, and if Peltier is innocent of rigging the wires to the light fixture in the first place…then why, when his cellmate left, didn’t he point out the dangerous wires to prison authorities? He would have then been viewed as cooperating with prison rules and looking out for the officer’s safety. But then being a good-guy and doing the right thing has never been a Peltier virtue…that is, to anyone but himself and his own selfish and egotistical perceptions and self-importance.

So, are we to assume that for those two weeks in that small cell he didn’t see the wires at all, or know that his cellmate may have previously rigged them? It would be hard to miss. But then again, now, Bruce Smith, the narrator and the LPDOC have more folklore to twist around the Peltier myth. And that’s what they like to do, and right now, that’s just about all they have left.

Or, lets consider another likelihood. Peltier, after his roommate departed, rigged the wires himself to deliberately create a circumstance where he can pretend he’s being singled out by prison authorities. (The date itself is hardly insignificant. Had this happened the day prior it would have been on the 36th anniversary of the murder of two FBI agents at Pine Ridge and given Peltier even more cause to claim he was being singled out for harsh treatment.) This is not beyond the realm of possibilities because there have been a number of incidents were Peltier always claimed that he’s the victim. Peltier’s undeserved popularity has long since waned, so anything that can bring attention to him (for Peltier and the LPDOC), is helpful in their minds. Peltier loves playing the victim card.

Former corrections officer Bruce Smith talks of Peltier with an affectionate reverence, referring to him almost like a dear old friend and claims that these recent incidents are deliberate and part of a governmental plot to force this poor old, infirmed inmate into health failure, even death. “They want him to die,” Smith says.

Actually, Lewisburg officials would be content if Peltier would just follow the simple rules and not create administrative problems they constantly have to deal with. But Peltier has always made a habit of placing demands on the system by claiming a special status.

Bruce Smith adds that his father and grandfather would have been proud to see him speaking up on Leonard’s behalf. But would they? And as we are now asking…What took you so long, Bruce? You were in the BOP, in the system for 21 years, you’ve been retired for 8 years. How many times did you go on record to support the claims you now make? None would be a first guess. So now if you want your 15 minutes (actually 8 minutes and 50 seconds) of fame, or shame, you’re adding nothing to the Peltier cause. Where was Bruce Smith when Peltier has been in solitary previously, or during the fuss raised when he was transferred from Leavenworth?

Fact is that no one, especially within the Native American communities, really cares about Peltier at this point…the vast majority have seen that he and the American Indian Movement added nothing positive to Native American culture.

One last thing, Bruce Smith never mentioned why Peltier is serving consecutive life sentences (plus another seven consecutive years for his “armed” escape from Lompoc), so we will…

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods