PELTIER'S $1,000 DONATION...

On September 26th, in an impassioned, if somewhat pathetic plea, the LPDOC laid out their dire financial straits. “We need money, envelopes, paper, donations of any size, sponsor a delegate, make a monthly pledge,” they say in effect. In other words, they’re broke. At least, thank goodness they didn’t go down the “tax-deductible donations” road this time…perhaps they have learned a valuable lesson from the IRS…but no one at the LPDOC will admit to that. And it’s no wonder that this “grassroots organization” (and all the while we thought it was an International effort—Elsie are you still out there?), is dying on the vine. Over the past several years at least Native America and intelligent supporters are seeing through the fog of Peltier folklore.

This begging is nothing new and has been addressed by the NPPA too many times already with a major review going back to May, 2004 (please see Editorial Essay #24; Peltier Donations: Scam, Fraud?, in the NPPA Debate Continues Section).

That essay repeated a statement from one of the LPDC’s (predecessor of the LPDOC) leaders, Bob Free that;

“Transparency regarding accounting and donations will be posted on the web.”

Two points; it was obviously a problem within the organization, and of course, that never happened. Too many financial skeletons in the closet perhaps?

But we’ll up the ante from a previous offer (please see NPPA Blog dated September 6, 2010 below). The NPPA will donate $1,000 (up from the prior offer of $500) to Peltier and the LPDOC if they honor a commitment made to their supporters years ago:

Post on whoisleonardpeltier.info the following:

Peltier’s last five years (2006-2010) federal and state tax returns, and the federal and state tax returns for the LPDC (2005-2008) and the LPDOC’s returns for 2009 and 2010.

That’s all they have to do and a check for a grand will be in the mail. Promise.

But we know this is more than just problematic for Leonard and the Committee…what they don’t want supporters (either the die-hards or the well-healed) to know, is how much has been taken in, or more importantly, where has it gone?

As an aside, the September 26th message also stated “Leonard’s recent transfer to USP-Coleman in Florida has created sudden and unexpected increases in the cost of attorney travel.” Which is interesting, and silly, because, as we’ve understood over the years, the attorney’s working on Peltier’s behalf have done so, pro bono. And there is no reason for any attorney to travel to Coleman to speak with Peltier anyway (unless it’s just to meet the legend), because anything they would contrive as an issue is all a matter of record. Even pursing the FOIPA material can be handled from an attorney’s office and not Peltier’s prison cell. Besides, there’s still the U.S. Mail.

But let’s not stray too far from the fundamentals, from Peltier’s actual guilt and total lack of remorse for what happened at Jumping Bull, or even acceptance of any responsibility for that day.

The two most important sentences for Peltier supporters and detractors alike to contemplate over the past thirty-six years still remain;

“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.”

(Of course that was the dead agent’s jacket Joe Stuntz was wearing when he was shot while shooting at responding agents and officers later that day. Please see Editorial Essay #54) Write Leonard and ask him to explain that one. And,

“I never thought my commitment would mean sacrificing like this, but I was willing to do so nonetheless. And really, if necessary, I’d do it all over again, because it was the right thing to do.”

(Please see Editorial Essay #52) It was “The right thing to do?” Instead of Leonard, write the President to demonstrate Peltier’s attitude towards his crimes and that he is not deserving of the slightest consideration for clemency.

Add to that the decade’s long lie that “Mr. X.” did it; if there’s any doubt about that, just watch the movie (http://www.noparolepeltier.com/lie.html).

And then there’s what the jury had to consider; distilling down all the other evidence to that core testimony each juror needed to weigh truthfulness, and the degree of Peltier’s guilt or innocence. Those “Critical Witnesses,” taken as a whole, left little doubt then, as they do now. (Please see Editorial Essay #55.)

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
NPPA

PELTIER ESCAPES!

Well, from the “Big House” anyway; the fabled and historic Lewisburg Penitentiary.

After a stint in this Pennsylvania facility Peltier was transported, probably via Con Air (and by way of Oklahoma City) to his new residence, the maximum security prison in Coleman, Florida.

It is here that Peltier will continue his consecutive life sentences, plus the additional seven consecutive years for his armed escape from Lompoc.

What isn’t clear from the LPDOC is whether Peltier’s June “shots” (see NPPA Blog, 8/28/11) for prison violations, that landed him in the hole for six months, will continue at Coleman or if the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will cut him a little slack and allow him to return to general population.

We’ll have to see how long it takes before Peltier starts making demands about having his own room (see NPPA Blog 4/3/11), and the extra attention he demands as a “political prisoner.”

The LPDOC continues to encourage Peltier supporters to contact the new BOP Acting Director, Dr. Kane, and demanding that the “only acceptable transfer is one to a medium security facility in close proximity to (within a 500-mile radius) of his family and Nation. Ideally, Leonard should be moved to the medium security facility at Oxford, WI.”

So, the demands continue as if Peltier is entitled to special treatment, but it would be interesting to see exactly how many letters or phone calls Dr. Kane’s office actually receives. Contrary to the folklore of worldwide support for Peltier, the numbers are probably very small.

Also, adhering to the old saw that you’re judged by the company you keep, the LPDOC blog calls for “Free Leonard Peltier and Jeral Wayne Williams (Mutulu Shakur)” with what can only be described as a lame attempt at a flutish, tinny sounding semi-rap song. But it’s good that Peltier proffers his support for the former BLA and RNA member convicted of a Brinks robbery and the murder of a guard and two police officers. Williams’ possible release date is supposedly 2/10/16, which will predate Leonard’s next parole hearing by about eight years. Peltier has also voiced his support and camaraderie for the likes of Wesley Cook (Mumia Abu Jamal) and Timothy McVeigh. (Please see Editorial Essays:
http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#10
http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#standing
Peltier has been consistent in this regard; he knows a similar character when he sees one.

Perhaps Peltier wants to be the most infamous of the inmates at Coleman…we’ll have to see just how far he gets with that.

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods

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

Ron Williams: July 30, 1947 – June 26, 1975 R.I.P.

Dear NPPA Supporters:

Ron would have celebrated his 64th birthday.

He would have been retired by now, perhaps pursuing a second career like many of us, or maybe enjoying his life with sports, hobbies, travel, and probably spoiling the heck out of his grandchildren, as most of us certainly do.

But none of that happened because of a chance encounter crossing paths with a host of American Indian Movement (AIM) cowards at Jumping Bull on Pine Ridge in the summer of ’75.

Peltier at the moment is complaining because he, again, couldn’t follow the rules and wound up in the hole for six months.

For that one time each day that he’s allowed an hour outside his cell and into the sunlight, perhaps Ron in looking down.

Ron, from what I’ve learned about him, probably would be benevolent and show Peltier and the others mercy.

I personally wouldn’t be that kind.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire William’s family and all of Ron’s friends and Bureau associates.

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
No Parole Peltier Association
Founder
April 30, 2000

Leonard gets his own room...

Dear Supporters:

Not quite the room he was planning on, and the LPDOC, as expected, is blaming it on prison authorities…No way Leonard would do anything to violate prison rules. Right? Of course not…

It’s been a few months since the last NPPA post but there’s really been nothing notable to report. Peltier is slowing slipping into the ether as more people have come to realize his scam and lies have gone on long enough. The Myth is eroding and the shine coming off the folklore. Pretty soon he’ll be nothing more than a footnote in the sordid past of the American Indian Movement.

(Really, sometimes I do miss Bob Robideau…he was an endless source of material.)

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods

Peltier: I want my own room...

Dear Supporters:

One has to wonder, since the latest Peltier message was magically “launched into cyberspace by the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee,” (unsigned as usual): What were they thinking? Did anyone at the LPDOC (Betty Ann, Vivian, Pamela, Jean, Dorothy, Gina [curious that they’re all female]) give a moment’s thought to have supporters badger the Bureau of Prisons with such a silly and stupid request?

(Since there hasn’t been any comment on Peltier’s test results from last month then perhaps he’s not facing cancer on top of everything else…which is a good thing. If he did have pressing or life-threatening health issues the BOP would move him to an appropriate medical facility. Lewisburg will do just fine for now…except for the accommodations apparently.)

Imagine the horror? “Yesterday (March 24th), another prisoner was moved into Leonard’s cell.”

Almost since day one Peltier has viewed himself as an exceptional case, an allegedly privileged character—a wrongfully convicted political prisoner—or so the folklore and myth would have us believe. I have no independent knowledge but would imagine that Peltier (in addition to his armed escape from Lompoc), has been pretty much of a pain-in-the-tail to prison authorities for years.

But what happened to Peltier the tough guy?

Peltier’s a tough guy when he and others are shooting at two agents pinned down in an open field; he’s the tough guy participating in cold blooded murder, blowing away the faces of two wounded human beings; he’s a tough guy when he sticks a gun in a woman’s mouth and threatens her life; he’s the tough guy when he steals government property and makes a run for it (well maybe not that tough as a thief and fleeing felon).

But now he’s a crybaby because he has a cellmate?

Even John Gotti, a real tough guy and once the nation’s most feared crime boss, who no doubt had a lot of respect and support from many fellow inmates, was the victim of prison violence (beaten bloody it was reported). But the Teflon Don, unlike Peltier, was a stand-up guy and told prison doctors that he, “fell down.”

Great plan from the LPDOC, have all those Peltier supporters complain to the BOP. The BOP will receive hundreds, maybe thousands, even hundreds of thousands of emails and phone calls. Right? No, not really, probably only a dozen or so. Reports of Peltier’s support are greatly exaggerated.

Here’s a solution: Peltier doesn’t want a roommate, especially one who hasn’t read or believes all the fairytales about him, or if he did, could care less…so give Peltier his own room (cell) in…solitary.

“In the spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
NPPA