LPDOC Acts: Breaking News: Peltier Back @ Lewisburg; etc..

LPDOC Acts: Breaking News: Peltier Back @ Lewisburg; etc..
Breaking News: Peltier Back at Lewisburg
Leonard has been transferred back to USP-Lewisburg and released
to the general population. He was welcomed back not only by
the brothers at Lewisburg, but by all of the prisoners. Leonard
wishes to thank all of his supporters for standing with him during
this difficult time. But we need to finish the job. Take Action:
http://www.FreePeltierNow.org/transfer.htm.

Leonard's address:

Leonard Peltier
#89637-132
USP-Lewisburg
US Penitentiary
PO Box 1000
Lewisburg, PA 17837
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The Primary Directive: Survival
On January 13, 2009, 64-year-old and ailing Indigenous activist
Leonard Peltier was transferred to USP-Canaan, a maximum security
facility in Waymart, Pennsylvania. Not long after his arrival,
Peltier was attacked by two young inmates and sustained a
number of injuries. Proven to be the victim of the attack via
videographic evidence, Peltier is nevertheless being held in
solitary confinement and is unable to contact family but once
a month. Peltier's attorneys were denied access to their client
for four days. A protest in support of Peltier, a member of the
American Indian Movement, occurred in San Francisco on January 23.
Other protests are being planned in Colorado and elsewhere on or
around February 6, the 33rd anniversary of Peltier's arrest in
connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. Peltier's Nation, the Turtle Mountain
Band of Chippewa Indians, passed a resolution late last year
requesting Peltier's transfer into their custody to serve the
remainder of his sentence. Family members are supportive of such
a transfer. Alternatively, family members want Peltier transferred
closer to home, either to FCI Sandstone (MN) or FCI Oxford (WI).
Peltier's security rating has been greatly reduced by the Bureau
of Prisons (BOP) in recognition of his model behavior for the
past 30 years. "The fact is that Peltier is an innocent man.
He should be given his freedom. All that aside, his current
security rating means he shouldn't even be in a maximum security
prison anymore," said Peltier attorney Mike Kuzma. "In light of
this incident, we know that the BOP cannot ensure Leonard's safety
in a maximum-security environment."

* Take Action *

Very soon, the BOP will decide how to resolve this matter. Leonard
may be returned to general population. While this is preferable to
solitary confinement, we already know that the BOP can't or won't
protect Leonard from harm. We must keep up the pressure on the BOP
to transfer Leonard to one of the three above locations. Today and
every day over the next several weeks, make your voices heard.
Send letters, call, and/or e-mail the director of BOP.

Harley G. Lappin, Director
Bureau of Prisons
U.S. Department of Justice
320 First Street., NW
Room 654
Washington, DC 20534
Phone: (202) 307-3250
Fax: (202) 514-6878
E-mail: hlappin@bop.gov

A sample letter (that you can adapt and use for a telephone script,
as well) follows.

-----

Dear Sir:

I was outraged to learn that, on January 13, Leonard Peltier
was transferred to USP-Canaan in Waymart, Pennsylvania, where
he was immediately attacked and injured by young gang members.
Your inability to protect Mr. Peltier in this or any other maximum
security facility is clearly evident.

I understand that last August Mr. Peltier properly submitted a formal
application for transfer to an institution close to his home in North
Dakota-either the low-security prison at Sandstone, Minnesota, or the
medium-security facility in Oxford, Wisconsin. Such an assignment,
I know, would comply with Program Statement 5100.08 which states
that the BOP is to make every effort to keep prisoners within a
500-mile radius of their homes so that prisoners can maintain ties
to their families and home communities. In reviewing Mr. Peltier's
places of confinement during the past 33 years, however, I was
shocked to discover that he has never received such consideration.
Apparently, your rules don't apply to Mr. Peltier and never have.

In addition, in late 2008, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Indians also sent a resolution to you offering a third option,
i.e., that their tribesman Peltier be transferred to that Nation's
custody to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Leonard has been a model prisoner for the past 30 years.
In recognition of this, the BOP has greatly reduced his
security rating. Peltier shouldn't be imprisoned in a maximum
security facility anymore. His reduced security rating, Peltier's
application, and his Tribal Council's request should have been but
clearly weren't taken into account in the BOP's recent decision
to transfer Peltier to yet another maximum security prison-and one
where his safety and wellbeing were put in such serious jeopardy.

The only remedy to the current situation is for you to immediately
transfer Mr. Peltier to one of the above, more appropriate
facilities. I strongly urge you to do so.

Sincerely,


(Your Name)
(Your Street Address)
(Your City, State and Zip Code)

-----

Please be persistent. Leonard needs your help. This advocacy
on Leonard's behalf will take only moments out of our busy days.
We must let the director of the BOP know that the only responsible
thing for him to do is to assign Leonard to a safe environment.
We must also let him know that we will hold him responsible should
he fail to provide for Leonard's safety.
-----



Bush Strikes at the Heart of Leonard Peltier
Bush denies clemency to Peltier
http://freepeltiernow.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-denied-clemency-for-some-high.html

Defense Committee Media Advisory
http://freepeltiernow.blogspot.com/2009/01/native-americans-and-supporters.html

Op-Ed by Friends of Peltier
Primum Non Nocere
http://freepeltiernow.blogspot.com/2009/01/primum-non-nocere.html

-----


Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Friends of Peltier

http://www.FreePeltierNow.org

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