Jailed Native American activist Leonard Peltier wins rights prize

[babsbunny]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/05/jailed-native-american-activist-leonard-peltier-wins-rights-prize/

By Agence France-Presse
Monday, September 5th, 2011 -- 8:21 pm

MONTEVIDEO — Leonard Peltier, an indigenous rights activist jailed in the United States for decades, has received the first Mario Benedetti Foundation international human rights prize, the group said Monday.

The group called Peltier, a Native American activist convicted in 1977 for the murder of two US FBI agents, the longest serving political prisoner in the Americas. The case stemmed from a shootout at a reservation in the US state of South Dakota.

"Leonard Peltier, who on September 12, 2011 will turn 67, has spent more than half his life in prison. He is a symbol of resistance to repressive state policies by the United States, where there are people in jail for ethnic, racial, ideological and religious reasons," a foundation statement said.

[RC]

1. Free Leonard Peltier.

[2banon]

2. Hear, Here! n/t

[Ken Burch]

3. Won't happen until we have a Democratic president leaving office

who's wife isn't planning to run for president later(and you all KNOW what I'm talking about)

Seriously...there's no good reason for the man to still be rotting in prison.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. As long as it is held that he killed Federal agents, that will never happen

Knock some serious holes in that and then *maybe* at best.

The vast majority of pols are lawyers. To free him it would require deciding that many years of legal work including court decisions are all wrong. That is just not in many lawyers.

[msanthrope]

16. Well, when several hundred FBI agents throw a protest at the White House

on the mere rumor that clemency is going to be granted, I expect that most Presidents would take note.

There is a very good reason he will rot in prison. He's guilty.

[Mnemosyne]

4. What a heinous injustice has been done to Mr. Peltier... K&R n/t

[Odin2005]

5. K&R

[frogmarch]

6. He murdered FBI agents

Jack Coler and Ronald Williams.

Peltier was an outlaw even before the shootout at the Jumping Bull Ranch. At the time of Peltier’s arrest, he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest issued in the Eastern District of Wisconsin for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution in the attempted murder of an off-duty police officer.

He’s no hero in my eyes.

The RESMURS Case
The Investigation of the Murders of FBI Agents
Jack Coler and Ronald Williams

http://www.fbi.gov/minneapolis/the-resmurs-case

Before anyone here accuses me of being a racist and hating Native Americans, let me say that one of my sons has been happily married for 25 years to a NA woman from Pine Ridge who is a full-fledged member of the Lakota tribe. Their daughters, my granddaughters, are proud of their Lakota heritage, and I am proud right along with them.

As for AIM, during the 70s, my husband and I rented a house in Hot Springs, SD, to a group of AIM members. Not only did they refuse to pay rent, when they finally left of their own accord a year later, they ripped out all the electrical wiring in the house, tore up the plumbing and shot holes in the walls. They practically gutted the place. I guess they showed us. :eyes:

Those who blindly support outlaw heroes should ask themselves why.

[Zorra]

8. Leonard was framed.

He may not have been an angel, but he did not kill those FBI agents.

He has been convicted of a crime he did not commit, and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.

But of course, as we all know, and as history has proven, the government of the US has always treated indigenous peoples fairly, and would never kill, imprison, or deprive a Native American person of their freedom, property, or their rights unjustly, or for the sake of convenience.
:sarcasm:
FREE LEONARD PELTIER

http://www.freeleonard.org/case/index.html

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. What are your thoughts on who killed those agents

I assume you agree they are dead

[Zorra]

17. I have absolutely no idea who killed the agents.

Apparently, neither does the FBI, unless they are covering their asses for some major screw-up somehow.

They lied, they deliberately withheld evidence, and the whole case is FUBAR.

My personal opinion is that they needed someone to pin the blame on, and Leonard was that unfortunate someone.

The fact that he is innocent of the crime is irrelevant.

http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/

http://www.freeleonard.org/case/index.html

[H2O Man]

51. The actual gunman

who shot the two wounded FBI agents is actually well known. It definitely was not Leonard.

[treestar]

53. Thing is that someone did it, but no one would testify

No one who was there would testify.

Which does not justify framing anyone. But if the people there were decent people, they would not have protected killers.

[frogmarch]

14. According to the "free Leonard" sites he was.

They also claim that the .223 shell casing found at the scene didn't match Peltier's rifle - the rifle that ballistics proved was Peltier's AR-15.

excerpt from the link in my previous post:

An examination of the physical evidence concluded that Agents Williams and Coler had been killed at close range by a .223 type bullet. According to witnesses, Peltier was identified as the only person in possession of a weapon that would fire a .223 type bullet at the time of the murders. The weapon was an AR-15 rifle.

An examination by the FBI Laboratory made a positive match with a .223 shell casing found in the trunk of Agent Coler's car and marks produced by the extractor of Peltier's AR-15. No match could be made with the firing pin, because it was too smooth.

Go ahead and worship this murderer if you want to. Not many NAs on the res do, because they know what he was and what he did. But you know more than the people who are acquainted with the facts of the case do, so suit yourself.

[EFerrari]

23. Sure. The FBI and Janklow tried to suppress Peter Matthiessen's book

for most of a decade for no reason. The FBI says he's guilty, that should be enough for anyone. Who doesn't trust the FBI?

[mikekohr]

24. Don't trust the FBI, trust what Peltier told Kamook Banks

http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=10&id=29&Itemid=70

you may not like what you read here, but it's the truth.

[EFerrari]

25. What utter crap. The National Lawyers Guild

Amnesty International, Tutu, Mandela and Rigoberta Menchu are all wrong and you and the FBI are right?

Sure.

[mikekohr]

27. I am no fan of the FBI in this case, until you read the work by "News From Indian Country"

http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=10&id=29&Itemid=70

and "The Unquite Grave," you are not fully informed. I have friends on Pine Ridge. I knew Calvin Jumping Bull on whose property the killing of the two FBI agents and Joe Stuntz of AIM occured. I have closely followed this case for the last 22 years. I started out where you are at now. You have yet to see the truth.

?
Calvin Jumping Bull lecturing at the 12th International Brotherhood Days gathering, July of 2000. Calvin was the eyapaha (announcer) at Brotherhood Days from its inception.
Calvin passed over on July 1st, of 2005. He had been looking forward to attending the last gathering of Brotherhood Days in Danville, Illinois.

When I remember Calvin I will always think of his humor, wit, dignity, and decorum. Calvin was a well-spring of knowledge and his kind and generous nature touched many people. I will miss him.

Born November 9th, 1929, in Oglala, the great-grandson of Tatanka Iyotaka, (Sitting Bull), Calvin graduated from Wesleyan University with a Bachelors degree in Arts and Art Education. He received his Masters of Arts degree from Black Hills State University. Calvin served as principle at Red Cloud Indian School for eight years before joining the founding staff at Oglala Lakota College.

Calvin was a driving force in creating the first tribally contracted school, Loneman School in Oglala, on the Pine Ridge Reservation and was a firm believer of Indian control over reservation schools. He drew great satisfaction in the growing number of tribal members who serve as educators and staff in the reservation's school system.

Calvin was fond of saying, "As long as I can stand and talk, I can teach."

Calvin was recognized with the South Dakota Indian "Living Treasure" award in 2001 for his life-long efforts in keeping Lakota language, culture, and song alive. Calvin performed at Cheyenne Frontier Days for 41 years and was inducted into the CFD Hall of Fame in 2004. Calvin, a recognized singer in his own right, was a member of the renowned traditional Lakota drum group, "The Porcupine Singers," featured in "Dances With Wolves," and "Thunderheart." Calvin, along with Nellie Two Bulls, are featured in Ronnie Theisz's book and CD, "Sharing the Gift of Lakota Song."

Pat Pumpkinseed, a long time employee of Red Cloud School said of Calvin, "He was just about the coolest Lakota man who ever lived." http://www.lakotatimes.net/Sports.htm

Thomas Shortbull, Oglala Lakota College President, described Calvin as, "....one of the great heroes of the Lakota People." To honor the example of his life the OLC, in co-operation with the South Dakota Community Foundation has established the Calvin Jumping Bull Scholarship fund. Those interested may donate to this fund through the office of Thomas Shortbull, OLC President, P.O. Box 490, Kyle, SD 57752 For further information call Thomas Shortbull at 605-455-6020 or Marilyn Pourier, OLC Development Director, at 605-455-6045.
http://www.olc.edu/calvin

[Zorra]

44. John Trudell On Leonard Peltier

John is a very sincere man. You may find this interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0uMJkCGRUw

DeMain editorial on agents' and Aquash's deaths

In January 2002 in the News from Indian Country, the publisher Paul DeMain wrote an editorial that an "unnamed delegation" told him, "Peltier was responsible for the close range execution of the agents..." DeMain described the delegation as "grandfathers and grandmothers, AIM activists, Pipe carriers and others who have carried a heavy unhealthy burden within them that has taken its toll."<23> DeMain said he was told the motive for the execution-style murder of the AIM activist Anna Mae Aquash in December 1975 "allegedly was her knowledge that Leonard Peltier had shot the two agents, as he was convicted." DeMain did not accuse Peltier of participation in the Aquash murder (and in 2003 two Native American men were indicted for the murder).

On May 1, 2003, Peltier sued DeMain for libel for similar statements about the case published on March 10, 2003, in News from Indian Country. On May 25, 2004, Peltier withdrew the suit after he and DeMain settled the case. DeMain issued the following statement:

“I do not believe that Leonard Peltier received a fair trial in connection with the murders of which he was convicted. Certainly he is entitled to one. Nor do I believe, according to the evidence and testimony I now have, that Mr. Peltier had any involvement in the death of Anna Mae Aquash.’’<24><25>

DeMain did not retract his allegations that Peltier was guilty of the murders of the FBI agents and that the motive for Aquash's murder was the fear that she might inform on the activist.<26>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Peltier

You may also find this is interesting; I don't know how accurate it is

In July of 2005 a four page February 1993 FBI memorandum was discovered in documents received by Peltier’s attorneys through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that outlined the FBI’s conspiracy to destroy Peltier's Executive clemency campaign. The memo urged their agencies to "Get the story/pictures out publicly through...magazines or other publications which have worked closely with the FBI over the years". DeMain, fully aware that the FBI had begun their efforts to stop Presidential clemency for Leonard, sold the FBI an advertisement to recruit Native Americans into the FBI in August 1995.

In the Mid August 1995 issue of News From Indian Country, in defense and justification for their support of the FBI, under “Recruiting FBI agents, informers, and national security secrets”, wrote, “The editorial staff and board of directors of Indian Country Communications Inc., believe the FBI has every right and duty to recruit Native Americans. They can use more diversity, and maybe twenty years ago they could have saved the lives of two young, white and inexperienced agents at Pine Ridge if there had been more native agents.”

Never mind the more than 60 murdered Oglala Lakota native people as a result of FBI activities on the Pine Ridge Reservation from 1973-1976; and Joe Stuntz, a young Indian man of 23 who also was shot in the head by a cowardly, never unidentified government agent’s sniper bullet, the same day as DeMain´s "two white and inexperienced agents" were shot in the head by a still unidentified native person (s). Substantiated by government admissions it does not know who shot the agents; and that it does not have sufficient evidence to show that Leonard Peltier was the “trigger man.” (Lynn Crooks, 1995 parole hearing of Leonard Peltier.) Joe Stuntz had been shot in the head by a government sniper before the bodies of the dead agents had been discovered, strongly suggesting that this was, as indicated by numerous FOIA documents, a U.S. Government planed action. These agents, 28 years old, were much older than our "Dog soldier" group of 4 teenage boys, 15 and 16, who fought like warriors, as did the three young women warriors. Only Leonard, Dino, and myself, were the same ages as these agents. These agents were not only well trained in Special Weapons and tactics ((SWAT) and paramilitary tactics, and had experience in the field, but more importantly knew that they were being backed up by more then hundred fifty other SWAT FBI agents. We were forced to engage in a war of their making. The United States Federal Government had ordered "paramilitary" actions to be used to destroy the American Indian Movement and anyone that supported us. It is miraculous that only one of us was killed that day as they had come prepared to massacre us. It was because of the widespread community support for us on Pine Ridge and the Creator that we were protected that day.

DeMain says that he supports the FBI because several members of his family and friends work for prisons, law enforcement agencies and the FBI. (Sue Morales-Finkle interview) With this recent revelation I am no longer surprised about the partnership DeMain has formed with the FBI, nor his contributions to FBI misinformation, deceptions and out right lies about Peltier.

http://www.leonardpeltier.net/peeledapple.htm

The FBI has been so blatantly duplicitous and has intimidated and paid off so many witnesses and others involved in this tragedy that it is difficult to believe those who take the side of the FBI. Seriously, you never know who is working for them.

[mikekohr]

48. There is Nothing In The Above Article That I Do Not Agree With

Peltier did not receive a fair trial. Yet he is, by his own confession to Kamook Banks, the one who executed the wounded agents.

I place the blame for the two agents being sent into the Jumping Bull property on their superiors. Given the inflamed conditions on Pine Ridge, much of it fired by the insensitive, ignorant, incompetant and intractable actions of the Federal Government, including the FBI and a sickening level of deeply embedded racism by surrounding white communities, and the astounding level of violence on Pine Ridge it would have been a miracle if this event did NOT result in a firefight. They were placed in harms way by their own.

The man, Severt Young Bear Sr., who invited AIM to Pine Ridge after his uncle Raymond Yellow Thunder was humiliated, beated, stripped naked, tossed into a dance hall, beat again and left to die of a brain hemorage by 4 white knucleheads, noted with sadness the decline of AIM as egos, and paranoia, fueled by drugs, alcohol and violence
"difused the focus," of the organization. (See his excellant work: "Standing In The Light,")

There were great and admirable people involved in AIM and the FBI. There were people in AIM and the FBI that made some deplorable and criminal decisions. Sorting out the good from the bad is not easy in this complex, confusing case. It never is.

[frogmarch]

30. Libel

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse is a one-sided book, according to Tim Giago, founder and publisher of the Lakota Times. "It has a lot of errors in it and outright lies," he said. Although he is glad that the courts upheld author Peter Matthiesen's First Amendment rights - after an eight-year battle - Giago is not rejoicing over the book's new release May 21 <1991>.

Published by Viking Press, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse details U.S.-Sioux relations. It focuses in particular on the militant activities of the American Indian Movement in the 1970s and calls for a new trial of Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents in Oglala, S.D., in 1975. The book was pulled from the shelves of stores and libraries after FBI agents and a former governor of South Dakota, William Janklow, sued for libel.

"The FBI agents written about maliciously by Matthiessen, felt they had been slandered, and I fully respect their right to bring lawsuit," said Giago. "But under the First Amendment, Matthiessen's rights also had to be protected."

Bill Janklow "was never a friend of mine," Giago said. "I criticized him often in my paper." But the former governor, who had been convicted in absentia in an Indian court of raping a Lakota woman, "was totally cleared of this charge by U.S. marshals, the Bureau of Indian Affairs police and the FBI," said Giago. "But none of this is mentioned in the book. Janklow certainly had a right to sue."

http://www.dickshovel.com/giaggo.crazy.html

[msanthrope]

15. No, he wasn't. He killed those FBI agents, and he has the blood of Anna Mae Aquash

on his hands.

He will die in prison.

[Zorra]

28. Are you saying that he murdered Anna Mae Aquash? nt

[mikekohr]

32. Anna Mae was shot by John Graham AKA John Boy Patton

Graham along with Arlo Looking Cloud was convicted of her murder. The big question is, who in the chain of command of AIM gave the order to murder her.

Anna Mae had been "snitch-jacketed" by the FBI as part of their efforts to undermine the cohesion and unity of AIM. This tactic is out of the playbook of COINTELPRO. While I do not believe any credible information directly implicates Pelter in the assassination of Anna Mae Pictou Aquash the FBI is not entirely innocent in this case either.

[Zorra]

36. "Graham anlong with Arlo Looking Cloud was convicted of her murder"

That's accurate.

The FBI was still Hoover's FBI at this time, in reality, and Nixon was President.

[mikekohr]

38. Nixon was a dick, as was Hoover, what does that have to do with who killed Anna Mae Aquash?

Both were convicted on Looking Cloud's testimony within the last couple of years, long after Nixon and Hoover were dead and gone, the Earth never again to be blighted by their presence.

[Zorra]

40. Nothing.

But I would say that it has a great deal to do with why Leonard Peltier is in prison, and why Anna Mae Aquash was murdered.

[mikekohr]

42. Anna Mae was "snitch-jacketed" by the FBI and that led to her murder

Who gave the order to execute her? It was not Hoover or Nixon. Tactics of the FBI and COINTELPRO, snitch-jacketing, paid infiltrators and provacateurs like Doug Durham will forever shame the law enforcement community but there is plenty of blame here to be spread around. No one is without sin in this matter.

I completely understand how the shootout began. It was self defense up to the final moments of the shoot-out. The execution of the wounded agents and the 36 years of lies is what keeps Peltier in prison.


Another read I highly reccommend is "The Death Of Raymond Yellow Thunder, and other true stories from the Nebraska-Pine Ridge border towns," by Stew Magnuson. The brutal and senseless murder of Raymond Yellow Thunder prompted Raymond's nephew Severt Young Bear Sr. to call upon the American Indian Movement for protection.

?

Friday, July 16th, 1993.
Severt Young Bear (Hehaka Luzaha, or Swift Elk), speaking of the
history of the Porcupine Singers of Brotherhood Community and the
intent of International Brotherhood Days. Severt related today, "I
have gained strength from the good things that are happening here
at Brotherhood Days."
http://www.brotherhooddays.com/Severt.html

[msanthrope]

54. I am saying that the blood of Anna Mae Aquash is on his hands.

He is legally responsible for the execution of two FBI agents.

But in my opinion, the blood of Anna Mae Aquash will haunt him, forever.

He will die in prison, in a bed. She was left in a ditch, discarded by his followers.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. All men have feet of clay

Some a lot more clay that others...

[Ken Burch]

12. In the Black Hills, AIM was all that Native Americans had

There was no chance that the existing political system would ever treat them justly. And really, that hasn't changed. After, when it mattered, "The Man" backed the Goons. Resistance by any means was the only way.

You sound like one of those people who could never understand "what those Negroes are so angry about".

:eyes:

[frogmarch]

21. Oh yes, you are right. I have

never understood "what those Negroes are so angry about." :sarcasm:

I have two grandsons who are "Negro."

How dare you insinuate I'm a racist.

FYI, when the AIM members who "rented" our house refused to pay rent, we let them live there for free for a year, till they decided to move on. My husband and I were sympathetic to the AIM cause. We have never been racists, and we have always been sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans.

Posts like yours piss me off. Just because I believe Leonard Peltier is a murderer and is exactly where he belongs, and you don't, now I'm a racist according to you. :eyes:

[Ken Burch]

33. maybe not a racist, but smug

What other vehicle did Native Americans in South Dakota have to defend themselves, other than AIM? The system was always rigged against them and always will be.

I'm not sure Peltier didn't act in self-defense, if he did kill anyone. Is there any reason to trust a verdict issued against him by the white judicial system in the Nixon era?

[a la izquierda]

13. Yeah, you probably shouldn't cite the FBI in this...

or any case having to do with indigenous peoples in this country. The FBI willfully fabricates evidence as it pertains to murders on Indian reservations. It's pretty putrid. I no longer study native North America, but I know full well the lengths to which our government will go to screw indigenous folks.
You should read Peter Mathiesson's In the Spirit of Crazy Horse. If you still believe Leonard Peltier killed the FBI agents, well, I don't know what to tell you. He lays out a convincing argument with convincing, reliable witnesses.

[mikekohr]

22. Check out "News From Indian Country" edited by Paul Demain

The courageous work of Mr. Demain sheds much needed light in this very dark corner. There are no good guys in this case. The FBI was duplicitous, insensitive, and dishonest. Peltier fairs no better.

http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=10&id=29&Itemid=70

former Peltier supporter,
mike kohr

[a la izquierda]

47. Thanks Mike

I'm not a Peltier supporter one way or another. But when it comes to native peoples, I never buy what the government is selling, because it's selling bullshit and still trying to swindle natives out of resources.

[frogmarch]

29. I have read it. I own a copy.

I find it interesting that Mathiesson holds to Peltier being innocent, despite the fact that he had it straight from Peltier's mouth that Peltier had arrived at the ranch about an hour before the shooting started.

Please cite examples of the FBI fabricating evidence pertaining to murders on reservations, along with the evidence.

[mikekohr]

35. The most egregious example is the spurious testimony wrung out of Myrtle Poor Bear

in obtaining the extradition papers on Peltier from Canada. I have serious doubts of the veracity of the lab work on the extractor mechanism. The massive withholding of evidence in the trial phase, including the exculpatory firing pin test among many other issues. The autopsy was criminally incompetant at best. This case was rife with error and excess, but I believe Peltier is indeed the man that executed the wounded agents Coler and Williams.

It is important to remember Special Agent Whitehouse's testomony that the FBI lab "bent" evidence to fit case theory. That is in my opinion one of the tragic aspects of this case. The sloppiness, the insensitivity, the ham fisted machinations have allowed millions of people to be deceived as to what happened at the Jumping Bull homestead on June 26, 1976. That so many have been misled as to Peltier's innocence is due not only to his supporters but to an agency that fell somewhat short of its shining white image.

[frogmarch]

41. The US Ass’t Prosecutor decided that

Myrtle Poor Bear was incompetent to testify at trial because her mental state had deteriorated by the time the trial took place , so they didn’t call her as a witness. Her affidavits were only used in extradition proceedings against Peltier connected to other evidence - and that was before she was declared incompetent.

EDIT: The above pertains to the appeals. http://www.fbi.gov/minneapolis/the-resmurs-case

Yes, there have been allegations that the FBI fabricated Poor Bear’s statements. But based on what evidence? That special agents Kelly, Wood, Price and Sherer collaborated to manufacture evidence against Peltier by wringing words they wanted to hear out of Myrtle Poor Bear, or making it all up and claiming the words were hers?

http://home.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/peltier.htm#myrtlepoorbear

Excerpt:

Statements of Myrtle Poor Bear, circa 1976

The next thing she can remember was being in the area of the FBI car and pounding on PELTIER's back and yelling at him to "quit it." He was standing near the FBI car and he was pointing a gun at one of the agents who she heard say something like, "I surrender." She saw the body of one of the agents on the ground short of "jump off the ground" as each bullet hit him. She did not know how many times PELTIER fired and she could not describe the gun he had other than it was a rifle. <...> At this point, POOR BEAR advised that she heard PELTIER and others who had been living at or near the JUMPING BULL residence planning to kill either Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officers of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents sometime prior to June 26, 1975. FD-302 Field Report of Interview of Myrtle Poor Bear by SA Edward A. Skelly, Feb. 24, 1976

POOR BEAR states that after observing the above, she turned and started to run from the area. POOR BEAR stated that SLOW BEAR grabbed POOR BEAR by the hair and kept her from running away. POOR BEAR stated that then SLOW BEAR grabbed POOR BEAR's hair, POOR BEAR turned around and was facing PELTIER and the others. POOR BEAR stated that in the next instant she heard a gunshot, saw the rifle PELTIER was holding jump up and saw the FBI Agent's body jump into the air and come face down on the ground. POOR BEAR stated she knew PELTIER had shot this AGENT. FD-302 Field Report of Interview of Myrtle Poor Bear by SAs William B. Wood and David F. Price , March 31, 1976

POOR BEAR was advised that an affidavit with her signature had been produced in Canada stating that she had lied concerning being present at the murder of the two FBI Agents at Oglala, South Dakota. POOR BEAR advised taht she had signed no such statement and had not given any statement that she had not been present at the time of the killing of the two FBI Agents. FD-302 Field Report of Interview of Myrtle Poor Bear by SAs David F. Price and Merrill C. Sherer, Nov. 2, 1976

She walked to where these cars were located and observed Peltier facing a man she believed to be an SA of the FBI. She observed this man throw a handgun to the side and surrender. Peltier was pointing a rifle in direction of this man at the time. This man was holding his arm as if he was wounded and was leaning against one of the cars. Teletype from Rapid City to Director, Jan 25, 1977

Thereafter Myrtle Poor Bear was called to the stand and denied all statements she had previously made to the FBI including affidavits bearing her signature. She claimed the contents of all were false, however, did admit signing two of the three affidavits produced. Poor Bear was obviously testifying under great pressure and broke down during the testimony. Teletype from Rapid City to Director, April 13, 1977

~~

[mikekohr]

43. Myrtle Poor Bear was not at the Jumping Bull homestead

There was no physical evidence she was ever there. No other person at the AIM camp ever saw her there. In her first statement to the FBI she said as much and denied ever seeing or knowing Leonard Peltier. After hours of interogation and threats she issued two more statements, the last saying not only was she there but Peltier forced her to watch as he executed the agents.

Possible? Yes. Plausible? No.

Poor Bear recanted her testimony, citing threats to take her daughter away as well as threats to her personal safety. Even the prosecution, after Peltier was extradicted, distanced themselves from the Poor Bear affidavits. But by then Peltier was in US custody.

[a la izquierda]

46. Who the hell knows who killed the agents.

If you think that because Peltier places himself there that makes him guilty, for the love of god, you should never, ever be on a jury. There were a bunch of other people around, including the beloved lapdogs of the US government, the GOONS.
Here, a website. It won't work for you, because you clearly have time to make everyone else's counterpoint. I have to go teach classes on what our government has done to Latin America.
http://www.grahamdefense.org/position1.htm
I'll have to look through my books in more detail. Web searches are bringing up crackpot websites.

[EFerrari]

18. They can't even place him at the scene.

Those that accept the Official Story without question should ask themselves why.

[frogmarch]

26. Even during the trial

Peltier changed his story several times, giving various alibis.


He told Peter Matthiessen that he drove from Oglala to the Jumping Bull ranch about an hour before the shootout began. He told Lee Hill that he’d been in a tent at the ranch when the sound of gunfire woke him up. He told author Harvey Arden that he was awake and enjoying a lovely morning when he heard gunshots.

He was there. There's no disputing that.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

39. From what I have read he placed himself there

Though there was some changes in his story, depending upon who he was talking to.

[mikekohr]

20. Before You Form An Opinion You Need To Read This Work, -regardless of your sympathies-

from the website "International Brotherhood Days"
http://www.brotherhooddays.com/index.html


Reccommended Reading:
"THE UNQUIET GRAVE, The FBI and the struggle for the Soul of Indian Country By Steve Hendricks www.SteveHendricks.org
The Peter Mathiessen book and the Michael Apted video are the most common initial sources for people that become interested in the "rein of terror" on the Pine Ridge Reservation during the 1970's, which in my view, was book ended between the senseless murders of two innocents, Raymond Yellow Thunder, and Anna Mae Pictou Aquash.
This struggle has been compared to a war, and in war it is said, "Truth is the first casualty." Hendricks navigates this minefield of misinformation, diversion and deceit that cover and conceal the truth. Before you reach final judgment in these matters, read this book.. Neither side in this conflict is entirely pleased with Hendricks' work, which is often a sign that the truth has been reached. Regardless of your bias or sympathy in these matters you will find this work a riveting, albeit unsettling read.
As a Non-Native author, Hendricks surely did not enjoy full access to either side of this story. Yet in my opinion, I believe he has quite probably completed one of the most important works on these subjects. This work, along with the work of Paul DeMain, editor of the "News From Indian Country," an independent, Indian owned, reservation based newspaper. http://www.indiancountrynews.com/ have been instrumental in shining light on a dark moment of American history. Highly recommended!

http://www.brotherhooddays.com/reading.html

?

[frogmarch]

31. Thanks. I'll

check out the Hendricks book, and I'll also click the last two links you provided. :thumbsup:

[NightWatcher]

7. What sucks is that every time he gets press, they shit on him more

Recently a documentary was filmed about his story and in turn, the screws put him in the hole fir a couple months without medical attention.

It may sound horrible, but Uncle Leonard will not be free until he passes away and his souls is able to take wings and soar beyond the concrete walls and metal bars. I hope for his sake, he can rest soon.

[EFerrari]

19. Yes, that's right. They punish him for getting recognition.

And that shows in the clearest way what a corrupt system stole his life.

[lunasun]

34. Terrible At least he is alive. Remember Fred Hampton&Black Panthers killed by FBI raid

of office.
The other 2 defendants got off with self defense in the SD case when tried by a diff jury than his

[mikekohr]

37. Remember Ray Robinson, killed and secretly buried at Wounded Knee

?

Perry Ray Robinson Jr., was a civil rights activist who worked with Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young in the the south during the 1960's. Robinson went to Wounded Knee in 1973 to support the American Indian Movement, was seen inside during the occupation, but was never heard from again after April 25, 1973 after a confrontation with AIM Security guards Carter Camp, David Hill and Leonard Crow Dog inside the village.......

http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=9&Itemid=66

[classysassy]

45. America's shame

The treatment of the Originals in this stolen land is beyond sad and evil.God almighty will exact the revenge of the people that has suffered because of hate and greed by the so called Pilgrims and the ones that followed in search of things that did not belong to them.To those of you that believe in manifest destiny you are destined for a rude awakening.

[mikekohr]

49. From International Brotherhood Days

After his gross violation of the Treaty of 1868 Grant sent military negotiators to force the Lakota to "sell" the Black Hills to the United States. These very negotiators would write in 1876 of the sins that they were compelled to commit: "....Our country must forever bear the disgrace and suffer the retribution of its wrongdoing. Our children's children will tell the sad story in hushed tones, and wonder how their fathers dare so trample on justice and trifle with God." 31).

http://www.brotherhooddays.com/HEROES.html#President U.S. GRANT:



"What has happened has happened and can not be changed. We must find a way to move forward, together"
Eli Tail -Lakota- International Brotherhood Days, 1994

[MellowDem]

55. What bullcrap...

there is no such thing as "originals" or "pilgrims". Do you subscribe to the ancient idea of "finder's keepers"? Because you surely must have heard of "might makes right" then, correct? You do know that Native American tribes acted like all other tribes in human history? Indeed, European expansion was made even easier as tribes backstabbed each other and worked with this new "tribe" to their best advantage, just as they had done forever, just as every tribe has done in human history.

And it's laughable to think that Native American tribes found land after they crossed the bridge and stayed on that land for 11,000 years. In other words, there are no "originals", and even if there were, who cares? Under what sort of idea is the first human presence some sort of moral elevation?

If god exacts revenge a couple centuries too late on people with no responsibility, then that is a weird, sadistic asshole of a god you worship.

[RC]

50. The United States has a long history of treating the inhabitants of this country

as animal pests to be eradicated. Custer, Small Pox blankets, Mohicans, Transplanting tribes from Florida to Oklahoma, Driving the Indians from their reservations when oil or valuable minerals are found, The reservations themselves, all of the treaties the US government either broke or did not bother to honor in the first place. Look at how our government is treating the people (you and me) as a whole in this country now!
Is it any wonder some of the original people here, the aboriginals, i.e., the American Indians, used the only tools available to defend themselves, when all else has failed?

[H2O Man]

52. Anyone who is actually

interested in the killing of the two FBI agents can easily find out the identity of the actual killer. It was not Leonard.