PELTIER: SHOOT NORMAN BROWN....!

Dear Supporters:

 

The question to ask is how naive does the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (ILPDC) believe Peltier supporters really are? Or, to ask another way, to what length will the ILPDC go to perpetuate the false Peltier narrative? [1]

 

This is only one of many factually inaccurate claims, which is too kind a description, but peddling Peltier lies from the myth playbook is precisely their intention. 

 

On this page, https://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/LEGAL/RESMURS.htm [2] from the Who is Leonard Peltier website, there is a statement that reads:

 

FBI Memorandum

Observation of the Need to “Shoot and/or

Interview” Norman Brown When Located.

 

That statement, which makes no practical or literary sense, links to a document. Opening the document there is an editorial note which makes even less sense, as it is also misleading.

 

On April 18, 1977 Leonard Peltier was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. Later, because of FOIA documents that were released the government would attempt to change its theory to “aiding and abetting” in order to maintain Peltier’s conviction. 

 

(Using the verb “attempt” contradicts Peltier’s attorney Kevin H. Sharp’s repeated public claim that the government, according to Sharp, did change its theory.)

 

This linked document is actually a transcribed portion of the verdict in Peltier’s trial.

 

But what happened to “Shoot and/or Interview” Norman Brown? He’s not there! Even if the ILPDC did offer some other document, it is implausible that an FBI document exists promoting to “shoot or interview” anyone. Such a claim is senseless. 

 

One would think that Peltier, the ILPDC and particularly Kevin H. Sharp would want to offer, at a minimum, more accurate theories to its supporters and the public. 

 

As for the “Aiding and Abetting” issue, the ILPDC and Attorney Sharp are grossly inaccurate by offering factually unsupportable statements claiming that the government changed its theory of Peltier’s prosecution—after—Peltier was convicted.[3] In other words, during Peltier’s lengthy appellate process. Nonetheless, this issue was definitively settled by the courts.

 

This same page continues with additional distortions. There are ten (10) frames labeled “Other Suspects” with linked documents, each with additional editorial notes. “Other suspects” is pointless with no relevance to Peltier’s eventual conviction. The ILPDC hasn’t figured out that there are always “other suspects” in criminal cases of this magnitude. Jimmy Eagle, for one, received a lot of attention in the Reservation Murders investigation. Any other individuals were eliminated as suspects as Peltier’s guilt became more evident, which ultimately led to an indictment, trial and conviction, with numerous appeals that only reinforced his guilt. As a result, Peltier’s conviction and sentence have never been altered. 

 

And unless Sharp and the ILPDC needed reminding, on more than one occasion Peltier admitted his involvement. In a sworn affidavit Peltier stated, “I did not wake up on that June 26 planning to injure or shoot federal agents, and did not gain anything from participating in the incident.” (Emphasis added) [4]

 

Further links indicate: “FBI Teletype Shows the .223 Shell Casing Was Not Compatible With the ‘Wichita AR-15.’ ” This statement is taken completely out of context and skews the actual timeline. This matter was unconditionally resolved with a three-day ballistics hearing in the District Court and before and after with the 8^th Circuit Court of Appeals, all of which were ruled against Peltier’s interests. “When all is said and done, however, a few simple but very important facts remain. The casing introduced into evidence had in fact been extracted from the Wichita AR-15. This point was not disputed; although the defense had its own ballistics expert, it offered no contrary evidence.” 8^th Circuit, September 11, 1986. (Emphasis added) 

 

“Inconsistencies in the FBI’s story are noted.” This entry links to nineteen (19) lines of Peltier trial transcript testimony along with a note, “During Peltier’s trial the prosecution’s witness and AIM member Michael Anderson testified of FBI coercion.” Hardly inconsistencies. Native witnesses Swore on the Pipe and acknowledged that their testimony was truthful. For a detailed and comprehensive review of the Critical Witnesses Against Peltier; Michael Anderson, Wilford Draper, Norman Brown and Angie Long Visitor, see footnote.[5]  

 

Several additional entries regarding statements from the U.S. Civil Rights Commission may be of interest to Peltierites, but hold no sway in Peltier’s conviction. Peltier’s numerous appeals, and the court decisions on the merits, are controlling. 

 

All this on just one page of Who is Leonard Peltier, and there is no mystery of exactly who and what Leonard Peltier is, an unrepentant, cold-blooded convicted murderer.

 

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”

Ed Woods

---

[1] Peltier’s committees have morphed several times over at least the last two decades. Much of the Peltier material pushed by the original Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (LPDC) was carried forward by later committees and websites without fundamental vetting, review or revision. Thus, the perpetual inaccuracies.

[2] Last accessed 10/28/2022. Duly noted to see if the ILPDC can correct at least this one obvious flaw.

[3] http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2022/04/peltier-judge-kevin-h-sharp-part-3.html  

[4] Peltier’s sworn Clemency Application, February 17, 2016. This ends with the following attribution; “I do solemnly swear that the foregoing information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.”  Obviously, difficult for the ILPDC and Sharp to grasp; 'participating' and 'aiding and abetting' are synonymous.

[5] http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#critical Critical Witnesses against Peltier.

 

Line of duty: February 2, 2021

Dear FBI Family, It’s with a very heavy heart that I’m writing to tell you that this morning, Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger of the Miami Division were shot and killed in the line of duty. They were executing a federal court-ordered search warrant in a violent crimes against children investigation in Sunrise, Florida. Three other agents were shot and wounded, two of whom suffered injuries requiring hospital care, but both are now in stable condition. The third injured agent did not require hospitalization. The shooter is deceased. Days like this are among the darkest days we face in the FBI. We’ve lost two of our very own. We’re all heartbroken – particularly our colleagues in Miami who are reeling from this unthinkable loss. All of us across the FBI, in offices and divisions who worked with the special agents, and colleagues who have never had the chance to meet them, are all trying to also come to terms with this tragic loss. And yet, our grief cannot compare to that of the families of these two special agents. Today, they’ve lost the people who meant the very most to them. As many of you have heard me say, it takes an incredibly special person to answer the call and do the heroic work of an FBI special agent.To sacrifice self for service. This morning, Special Agent Alfin and Special Agent Schwartzenberger left home to carry out the mission they signed up for – to keep the American people safe. It will take us a long time to process the grief that we all feel for the loss of our own. But we’ll be forever grateful for their commitment and their dedication – for their last full measure of devotion to the people they served and defended. We will always honor their ultimate sacrifice. And we’ll continue to stand by our FBI Family, and the families of these special agents, in the days to come, bringing every resource we can to get through this together. We’ll continue to share more as we’re able to. Chris "In the Spirit... Ed W.

PELTIER: DEAR PRESIDENT BIDEN

Edward Woods

January 20, 2021

 

President Joe Biden

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

 

 Re: Leonard Peltier

 Federal Inmate #89637-132

  Clemency Denial Request

 

Dear President Biden:

 

I am writing regarding a very serious matter that you may be called upon to consider in the coming months, but first, congratulations on your election.

 

Leonard Peltier was convicted in April 1977 for the brutal and cold-blooded murder of two already wounded (by Peltier and others), FBI Agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams. 

 

Line of Duty deaths:

 

The court record and facts determined that the Agents were victims of an unprovoked attack while performing their lawful duties on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. They were caught in a deadly crossfire and were both wounded. There is absolutely no dispute concerning how the attack began. Agent Williams was overheard on the FBI radio describing exactly what was about to happen—that they were to be fired upon by multiple individuals. Agent Coler received a devastating wound to his right arm. Agent Williams, wounded three times, waved his shirt as a sign of surrender, (this was ignored by Peltier and the others), which he then used as a tourniquet on Agent Coler’s severely injured arm. The Agents were then approached and shot in the face at point blank range by Peltier with an AR-15. We pray that Agent Coler may have been unconscious when he was shot in the forehead while a second high-powered bullet tore away his jaw. However, Agent Williams was alive and faced his attacker. He had defensive wounds as his fingers were blown through the back of his head. 

 

cc:

1-Hon. Rosalind Sargent-Burns, Acting Pardon Attorney, USDOJ, 145 N St. NE, Room 5E.508, Washington, D.C. 20530

1-Hon. Jeffrey A. Rosen, Acting U.S. Attorney General, USDOJ, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20530-0001

1-Director Christopher Wray, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20535

1-Hon. Drew H. Wrigley, U.S. Attorney, District of North Dakota, 655 First Avenue North, Suite 250, Fargo, ND, 58102-4932

1-Hon. Ronald A. Parsons, Jr., U.S. Attorney, District of South Dakota, PO Box 2638, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-2638

1-Senator John Hoeven, Chairman, Committee on Indian Affairs, 838 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510

1-Congressman Brad Wenstrup, 7954 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45255

1-Mr. Louis J. Freeh, 3711Kennett Pike, Ste. 130, Wilmington, DE 19807-2156

 

 

After fleeing to Canada Peltier was extradited and then convicted of murder and aiding and abetting and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. He later received an additional seven consecutive years for an armed prison escape. In addition to the armed escape he has not been a model inmate, having served—by his own account—over five years in solitary confinement along with possibly a disciplinary transfer to another federal facility. 

 

This attack on law enforcement is not unlike last year’s September 19, 2020 attempted murder of two Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs who were both ambushed and shot in the face while sitting in their police vehicle.

 

Your public response regarding that appalling attack was genuinely sincere and appropriate, “This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice. Violence of any kind is wrong; those who commit it should be caught and punished.”

 

Peltier has made many unsubstantiated claims of innocence and of his alleged wrongful conviction, all of which have been dismissed and discredited. 

 

Through nearly two-dozen appeals, twice reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, Peltier’s conviction and his specious allegations have been examined in minute detail and

not once has his conviction or sentence been altered. For example, these are just an illustration of the many legal findings made by federal courts:

 

“The direct and circumstantial evidence of Peltier’s guilt was strong…” “…Peltier’s contentions of manufactured evidence are far from convincing.” 

[Direct Appeal; 8^thCircuit Court of Appeals, 9/14/78]

 

“The record as a whole leaves no doubt that the jury accepted the government’s theory that Peltier had personally killed the two agents, after they were seriously wounded, by shooting them at point blank range with an AR-15 rifle.”

[Rule 35 Motion, 8^thCircuit Court of Appeals, 12/18/02]

 

There are many more similar findings of fact throughout the appellate record.[i]

 

Mr. President, to be absolutely clear, Agents’ Coler and Williams were not just murdered, they were summarily executed.

 

The closest Peltier came to some semblance of compassion for his victims and their grieving families concluded with a statement that both families found disturbing and offensive: “I cannot see how my being in here, torn from my own grandchildren, can possibly mend your loss. I swear to you, I am guilty only of being an Indian. That’s why I’m here.” 

This is just one of many examples of Peltier’s contrived innocence. 

 

Peltier has offered many unsubstantiated—bordering on outrageous—claims concerning the events of June 26, 1975 at Pine Ridge, that include, among others; that the agents’ were sent in, alone, to provoke a confrontation; that there were hundreds of law enforcement and SWAT teams in the surrounding area; that the June 26^thevents were pre-planned by the government, and as an alibi for nearly two decades was that someone else, the phantom “Mr. X,” killed the Agents. The Mr. X alibi was eventually and publically rejected by one of Peltier’s own attorneys. These deceptive claims have been disproven as misinformation and falsehoods. There is ample proof to discredit Peltier’s illusory fabrications. 

 

Moreover, there is no disagreement that the historical treatment of Native Americans has tarnished our collective national history. However, as a Native American, Leonard Peltier is the last person to correct any wrongs of the past. 

 

It bears noting that none of your predecessors, when they were presented with a clemency decision, found it justifiable to commute Peltier’s sentence. The latest being President Obama. It is a logical assumption that previous Presidents understood the facts and gravity of Peltier’s murderous actions, his lawful conviction, and recognized this for what it really was, a wonton and appalling criminal act. These killings had absolutely nothing to do with Peltier’s Native heritage. Granting Peltier a commuted sentence would only serve as an affront to dedicated law enforcement men and women throughout this great nation as well as the multitude of law abiding Native Americans.

 

I would respectfully urge you to fully review the legal history of Peltier’s conviction, his discredited claims, and not the myth he has created in an attempt to shroud and deny his heinous cold-blooded actions, and deny his clemency petition. 

 

Leonard Peltier should be given the same degree of mercy he showed to Agents’ Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, and that would be none.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration in this most import matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Edw. Woods

Edward Woods

---

[i]Significant court decisions: http://www.noparolepeltier.com/court.html

  A concise history of guilt: http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#concise

 

PELTIER: FATALLY FLAWED LIE

Dear Supporters:

Peltier must believe his followers are idiots.

Peltierites are either incapable of reading and understanding the history of Peltier’s conviction, dismissive of the truth, or have very short and selective memories.

On February 6,2018 Peltier sent a brief press release on the anniversary of his arrest in Canada. He offered three main points: 

            A fabrication of the government’s arguments for his conviction; the whining of an old man and his ailments and begging for Peltierites to fork over more cash; plus a few other worthless anecdotes. 

Lies are always with us and in certain circumstances acceptable, like little white lies (as when a man is asked, “Does this dress make me look fat?”). But when they are immoral or deceiving without remorse or regret, or worse yet justified with shallow pretense, they become the worst sort.

This is a two-part canard:

Peltier claimed that the Assistant U.S. Attorney stated before the 8^thCircuit Court of Appeals, Judge Gerald Heaney:

“Your honor, we do not know who killed those agents. Further, we don’t know what participation if any Mr. Peltier had in it.”

--The first part, argued by Peltier in 1993, was thoroughly dismissed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals as being “fatally flawed.” What AUSA Lynn Crooks actually said was:

“Well, undoubtedly it wouldn‘t but I have no doubt whatsoever that we still would have convicted him. I think the best precedent that one can point to is the recent murder of our two marshals. We have exactly the same kind of situation. But we can’t prove who shot those agents.”

Nevertheless, this has not precluded Peltier from repeating the same flawed and discredited premise. (Footnote 1) (Please read the footnotes.)

--Then Peltier comes up with something new, not merely misrepresenting AUSA Crooks’ actual statement, but totally manufactured and without an ounce of truth or credibility he provides the follow-up lie: 

            “Further, we don’t know what participation if any Mr. Peltier had in it.”

This damning statement does not come up in the trial or appellate record. It is false on its face and proof that Peltier will say just about anything to attempt to muddy the record and confuse his gullible supporters. If the Government made such a statement during the appellate process—after it had already convicted Peltier of murder and aiding and abetting—it could have resulted in a reversal of the conviction or possibly a new trial. Peltier’s latest claim has all the permanence of writing on water.

Since Peltier has never answered any of the NPPA letters, editorial essays and Blogs sent to him in the various federal recreational facilities, a polite email was sent to the ILPDC on February 10^th asking for a specific date and reference for this defective claim. Of course, there was no response because it was a fabricated lie and they are unable to support it.

Peltier adds, wrongly again, referencing a “…false affidavit the FBI manufactured about Myrtle Poor Bear being at Oglala on the day of the fire-fight. A fabricated document used to extradite me illegally from Canada in 1976.”

Wrong! The Canadian government did consider the Poor Bear affidavits and determined that Peltier was lawfully extradited:  “I have concluded that Mr. Peltier was lawfully extradited to the United States.”“…the circumstantial evidence, taken alone, constituted sufficient evidence to justify Mr. Peltier’s committal on the two murder charges.”(Emphasis added). In other words, notwithstanding Poor Bear he was subject to extradition. Is that too difficult for Peltierites to comprehend?

(Please read the Canadian Minister of Justice’s letter responding to Peltier’s allegations of a wrongful extradition process that clearly refutes his allegations and claims – yet he continues to repeat them believing they make great folklore. Folklore they may be, but they’re simply and indisputably not true. Fn.2)

No small irony, and tucked away in the record was Peltier’s attorney’s opinion of Myrtle Poor Bear when they believed the government would call her as a witness. Peltier’s own attorney characterized her as a “witness whose mental imbalance is so gross as to render her testimony unbelievable.” (Fn.3)

Nice try! This is just another example of Peltier the warrior/victimtrying to have it both ways; alleging that Poor Bear was the reason he was extradited from Canada, but when it came to her testifying at his trial, threw her under the proverbial bus.

Peltier presents himself as a great native warrior, imprisoned for undertaking a noble cause, becoming sort of a prophet for his people, yet his constant pandering for cash makes him more like a prophet of profits.  And he continues to whine: He wants to spend time with his family, hug his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, wants compassion for his poor health and age, heart issues, prostate issues, ailments causing pain, arthritic hips and knees—he feels isolated from the world and that a day in prison is a lifetime. 

In response to that; Gee that is tough. Peltier should try the alternative—that of the two severely wounded men he then brutally murdered. Odds are he’d take the old man in prison route. Peltier didn’t give Jack Coler and Ron Williams any such option to hold their children or grandchildren and grow old gracefully.

Peltier adds another fairytale:

“I have been here too long. The beginning of my 43^rdyear plus over 20 years of good time credit, that makes 60+ years behind bars.” 

The convoluted math calculation aside, Peltier conveniently forgot why he’s in USP Coleman in the first place, a prison that’s just about as far away from his home turf as one can get and still remain in the continental United States. We can’t forget the shot—the wire incidentthat landed Peltier in solitary confinement at USP Lewisburg and that may have resulted in his transfer down south. Peltier has told us he’s spent over five years in solitary, which pretty much means he’s been far from a cooperative or ideal inmate. Lets also not forget the armed escape from Lompoc and the addititional seven-year consecutive sentence. (Fn.4)

Peltier also adds, in caps, “But I will say again I DID NOT KILL THOSE AGENTS.” All caps are the equivalent of yelling at someone. As an optional or alternative suggestion he can shout it from the USP Coleman rooftop for as long as he desires.

Perhaps, he can even add a few more barks at the moon in the process:

I LIED FOR YEARS ABOUT MY ONLY ALIBI THAT MR. X KILLED THE AGENTS. (Fn.5)

“AND REALLY, IF NECESSARY, I’D DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.”  (Fn.6)

“I DON’T REGRET ANY OF THIS FOR A MINUTE.” (Fn.7)

“I DID NOT WAKE UP ON THAT JUNE 26 PLANNING TO INJURE OR SHOOT FEDERAL AGENTS AND DID NOT GAIN ANYTHING FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE INCIDENT.” (Fn.8)* (Please understand the implication of Peltier admitting “participating in the event.”)

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”

Ed Woods

*Admittedly this would be a bit of a long shout.

Footnotes:

1) http://www.noparolepeltier.com/997.html

United States Court Of Appeals For The Eighth Circuit 997 F.2d 461, 1993 U.S. App. Decision July 7, 1993, Filed. Excerpt follows:

 --[Assistant United States Attorney] Crooks: Well, undoubtedly it wouldn‘t but I have no doubt whatsoever that we still would have convicted him. I think the best precedent that one can point to is the recent murder of our two marshals. We have exactly the same kind of situation. But we can’t prove who shot those agents.

--“First, as the district court recognized in this section §2255 proceeding, it is unclear whether the references to ”those agents“ was to the ”two marshals“ mentioned two sentences earlier who had recently been murdered, or to the two FBI agents killed in this case. In any event, this eight-word comment in response to Judge Heaney‘s statements, is a totally inadequate basis for asserting that the government conceded that it had not proved that Peltier personally shot the agents at close range, or that that was the sole basis upon which the government tried the case. Earlier in the argument, the government had stated several times that its theory was that Peltier was guilty of murdering the FBI agents because he either killed them personally or aided and abetted their killing:”

--“Peltier‘s arguments fail because their underlying premises are fatally flawed. (A) The government tried the case on alternative theories: it asserted that Peltier personally killed the agents at point blank range, but that if he had not done so, then he was equally guilty of their murder as an aider and abettor. (B) The government’s statement at the prior oral argument, upon which Peltier relies, was not a concession that the government had not proved that Peltier had not killed the agents personally, and that Peltier‘s conviction could be sustained only on an aiding and abetting theory. (C) The evidence allegedly supporting Peltier’s self-defense claim, which he claims was improperly excluded, was correctly rejected.” 

Further: “The record as a whole leaves no doubtthat the jury accepted the government’s theory that Peltier had personally killedthe two agents, after they were seriously wounded, by shooting them at point blank range with an AR-15 rifle.”(8^thCircuit; No. 02-1761, 12/18/02; Judges Hansen, “HEANEY” and Arnold: http://www.noparolepeltier.com/8circuit.pdf

2) Canadian extradition letter: http://www.noparolepeltier.com/canadaletter.html

“As I indicated above, I have concluded that Mr. Peltier was lawfully extraditedto the United States. In my opinion, given the test for committal for extradition referred to above, the circumstantial evidence presented at the extradition hearing, take alone, constituted sufficient evidence to justify Mr. Peltier’s committal on the two murder charges. My conclusions in this regard are consistent with the arguments made by Department of Justice counsel before both the Federal Court of Appealand the Supreme Court of Canada.

Furthermore, the third Poor Bear affidavit was consideredby the Federal Court of Appeal and the Minister of Justice before Mr. Peltier was extradited to the United States. Subsequently, further submissions respecting the third Poor Bear affidavit were made to the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as the appellate courts in the United States. 

The record demonstrates that the case was fully considered by the courts and by the then Minister of Justice. There is no evidence that has come to lightsince then that would justify a conclusion that the decisions of the Canadian courts and Minister of Justice should be interfered with.” (10/12/99, emphasis added)

3) http://www.noparolepeltier.com/585.html

4) Peltier ‘shot’ and transfer:

http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2011/08/

http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2011/09/

5) Mr. X the lie: http://www.noparolepeltier.com/lie.html

6) And really…http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#confessionThis admission is valid when considered within the context of how the statement was made.

7) Don’t regret…http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2014/09/peltier-update-broken-record-with.htmlThis admission is valid when considered within the context of how the statement was made.

http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2014/12/peltier-we-will-too.html

8) From participating…http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2017/01/peltier-another-admission.htmlSee this blog for a full explanation. 

RYAN CUSTER: FBI FAMILY

Dear Supporters:

For the first time in seventeen years the NPPA is momentarily setting aside its core mission to honor the memory and sacrifice of Special Agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams and dismantling the perpetuation of lies, fabrications, myth and folklore of convicted murderer Leonard Peltier.

Jack and Ron, looking down and watching over us, will certainly understand.

With the promise of an exciting and productive life of new adventures and challenges, life-altering events can occur unexpectedly.

On April 8, 2017, nineteen-year-old 6’7” freshman and scholarship basketball player at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, RYAN CUSTER’s life changed in an instant.

Ryan and many other college students were celebrating Spring at a party in Oxford, Ohio. A makeshift pool of tarp and hay bales was part of the afternoon’s activities. Ryan flopped into the pool and accidently bumped his head on another student’s knee. In a million times a minor incident like this would have resulted in some bumps and bruises, but for this one time, tragedy struck and Ryan fractured a vertebra, injuring his spinal cord. He was airlifted to a Cincinnati hospital for surgery and evaluation. Paralysis was evident. Two weeks later Ryan was transported to a Chicago clinic and was one of a handful of patients to participate in a pioneering stem cell procedure injecting millions of stem cells into the injured area of his spinal cord. Ryan will remain in Chicago to undergo weeks of intensive physical therapy.

Ryan’s father, George, was an FBI Agent in the late 1980s serving his first office in Cincinnati. He was an effective and professional new agent, learning quickly and enjoying the challenges of his new profession.

George met Kim, a well-liked FBI support employee since 1984. Over time, the relationship blossomed into marriage.

As is expected in the Bureau, transfers to larger offices were always a possibility. George and Kim decided they wanted to stay in the Cincinnati area and George left the Bureau to start his own successful business.

The Custer family eventually grew with two daughters and two sons.

To be clear and unmistakable, the Custer family is incredibly wonderful, salt-of-the-earth people, admired and respected by all who know them.

Ryan faces a long, demanding journey to recovery and only time will tell how much he will recover from his injury.

NPPA supporters can follow Ryan’s progress on Facebook.*

Such a devastating injury, although largely covered by insurance, brings with it many additional out-of-pocket expenses which prompted Ryan’s teammates to create a fundraiser to help ensure that he has the care he needs and expert guidance to assist in his journey, hopefully to a full recovery.**

The prayers and thoughts of all the supporters of the No Parole Peltier Association are with Ryan and his wonderful family.

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”

Ed Woods

*https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=ryan%20custer's%20recovery%20care%20page

** https://www.gofundme.com/RyanCuster33recovery

June 26, 1975...40 Years Later, Part 1

Dear Supporters:

On June 23, 1975 there was an incident on the Schwarting ranch, near Batesland, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota.

After a day of ranch work branding cattle, Jerry Schwarting, along with a young friend, Robert Dunsmore, gave a ride to Hobart Horse, a family friend, to the residence of Teddy Pourier. Also at this residence was Herman Thunderhawk and Jimmy Eagle. What started out as casual evening of unwinding and jesting turned into a dangerous and violent confrontation.

Jerry Schwarting was beaten by the others and young Dunsmore was stripped of his clothes. They were both threatened, even with castration, and had guns repeatedly fired over their heads. Schwarting's vehicle, jacket and new cowboy boots (that were two months old and cost $200) were stolen. Schwarting carries scars from knife wounds to this day.

As a result of this crime on a government reservation, a violation under the jurisdiction of the FBI, federal warrants were issued for the four individuals.

Special Agents Jack Coler, on temporary assignment from the Denver Division, and Ron Williams, both from the Rapid City Resident Agency that covers the surrounding counties and Pine Ridge, were assigned to search for the fugitives.

On June 25th, Teddy Pourier was arrested.

Later that day three young Indians; Michael Anderson, Wish Draper and Norman Charles walked along Highway 18 to the hamlet of Oglala to take a shower. While returning they were stopped and questioned by Agents' Coler and Williams who believed one of them may have been Jimmy Eagle. The three were taken to the Tribal Police in the town of Pine Ridge and it was determined that none of them was Eagle, however, at some point Coler and Williams learned that Jimmy Eagle had been seen in the Oglala area driving a red vehicle. A Tribal Police Officer later dropped off the three on Highway 18 a few miles south of Oglala near a small farm owned by the Jumping Bull family.

Unknown at that time to Agents' Coler and Williams, or the FBI, was that members of the American Indian Movement had set up a new camp in a ravine along White Clay Creek just south of the Jumping Bull farm. The FBI was painfully aware of AIM's presence on the Reservation, most noted through violent conflicts with the Tribal Government and the utter destruction of the village of Wounded Knee in 1973, along with the killing of civil rights worker Perry Ray Robinson and the suspected disappearance of others. Nor did they know that Leonard Peltier, then a fugitive from the attempted murder of a Milwaukee police officer, was also at the White Clay camp.

Coler and Williams decided to meet the next morning to continue searching the Oglala area for the fugitive, Jimmy Eagle.

It is absolutely undisputed how the shooting at Jumping Bull began sometime around noon on that fateful following day of June 26th.*

A number of FBI agents and employees heard Ron Williams on the radio describing that they had followed a vehicle from Highway 18; that the vehicle stopped, that it looked like they were going to be fired upon…and the shooting began. They could hear Ron trying to describe their location. They heard him say that if help didn't get there soon they would be dead. They heard Ron get shot.

During those fateful moments, the three in the vehicle, a white and red Chevrolet suburban, fugitive Leonard Peltier, Joe Stuntz, and the young Indian who knew exactly who Agents' Coler and Williams were, Norman Charles, began firing at the agent's who were now pinned down in an open field. Peltier was quickly joined by other AIM members from the camp, including Dino Butler and Bob Robideau, who, along with others, trapped the agents in what can only be described as a deadly crossfire.**

Local agents and law-enforcement responded; the first to arrive turning onto the same dirt road travelled earlier by Coler and Williams, were taken under rifle fire and forced back onto Highway 18. None were able to reach their besieged comrades.

In all likelihood, and under a hail of rifle fire, the shooting didn't last long as Jack Coler received a devastating wound to his right arm, was incapacitated, and probably going into shock. Ron, wounded three times and hoping that help would soon arrive, removed his shirt, crawled to his downed partner and used it as a tourniquet on his badly injured arm; and then waited.

Both Jack Coler and Ron Williams, severely wounded and unable to defend themselves, were then brutally executed.

Two young agents, one a former police officer, the other a veteran, remained loyal to their sworn obligation to uphold the law, honored their oath of Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity, and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Although forty years have passed, their dedication and memory will never diminish.***

"In the Spirit of Coler and Williams"

Ed Woods

*http://noparolepeltier.com/just.html

Comments on Just After Noon, June 26, 1975

**http://noparolepeltier.com/shootout.html

    http://noparolepeltier.com/timing.html

Comment on the timing of the attack on Agents' Coler and Williams

***http://noparolepeltier.com/meet.html

Meet Jack Coler and Ronald Williams

coAIMintelpro...

Ed Woods Unmasked; coAIMintelpro;

Tactics for the Defeated:

Dear Supporters:

Peltier, the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LPDOC), Peltier supporters (Peltierites) and the scant remnants of the American Indian Movement (AIM) find it impossible to defend Peltier with the facts; they lose at every turn. Instead, they engage in tactics that they themselves accuse the FBI and others of committing, their perpetual rallying cry is “Cointelpro,” the FBI’s counter-intelligence program that ended in 1971. Peltierites engage in their own brand of spreading deliberately false information, either publically or covertly (by planting false rumors), in order to influence the uninformed and hopefully shift opinion, that by some bizarre stretch of logic Peltier is innocent and an alleged ‘political prisoner’ who deserves freedom. Or, they obscure the truth, because the facts and the truth are their biggest challenge. They are unable to debate the facts, so they attack the messengers. They attempt to discredit targeted individuals using totally unreliable and uncorroborated sources as gospel, like a doggedly literal child accepting opinion as fact, possibilities as certainties. When it comes down to specifics, they change the subject, ignore the question, obfuscate, and fall back on the only defense they can muster; “It was Cointelpro.”

Please see the continuation of Editorial Essay #61 at:

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

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”

Ed Woods