Zbiórka Funduszy Komitetu Obrony Leonarda Peltiera
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee Fund Drive 2001
UNTIL FREEDOM IS WON
SUPPORT THE NEW CAMPAIGN FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Dear Friends,
Inspired by your tremendous outpouring of support during the clemency
campaign, and uplifted by the flood of encouragement and compassion you
expressed after clemency was lost, the LPDC spent the last months carefully
preparing a new, reinvigorated campaign for Leonard Peltier's freedom.
Leonard Peltier will not accept a fate that is unjust, and we know you won't
either. We plan to proceed with more force, precision, and strength than
ever before.
The LPDC has grown. Tribal leaders, professors, people of faith, Indigenous
activists, experienced organizers, Oglala survivors, lobbyists, and talented
lawyers have joined the committee, more determined than ever to carry on the
struggle. Together we will continue, "until freedom is won." But we cannot
do it without you.
As you can imagine, our financial resources dramatically diminished after
the clemency defeat, and we are faced with the necessary task of raising
funds to carry out the new campaign effectively. Here are some of the plans
for which we need financial support:
New Legal Efforts:
* We are preparing three very important cases: a civil rights case,
which if won could ban the FBI and prosecutors from making false statements
and obstructing Leonard's avenues for release; a FOIA lawsuit seeking the
thousands of FBI documents still withheld, which if won, could reveal new
exculpatory evidence; and a motion to reduce Leonard's sentence from
consecutive to concurrent life sentences, which if won, could win his
release.
* All of our lawyers believe deeply in justice for Leonard, and each
has expressed their solid commitment to giving their best and full efforts
to the new cases. However, these cases (especially the civil rights case)
will be very demanding on their time, requiring numerous hours of attention.
They have small, private, practices and families to feed. To fully enable
them, we must raise money for their expenses and time.
Court Date Mobilizations:
* We plan to coordinate massive mobilizations around each court
hearing. We will need to fill the courtrooms with Native delegations, high
level supporters, international human rights leaders, and the concerned
public. At each hearing, we will hold press conferences with Leonard's
attorneys and spokespeople and we will coordinate dignified public events.
It is impossible to know in advance when hearings will be scheduled.
Therefore, we need to be ready and able to act quickly. That means
purchasing plane tickets for Pine Ridge delegates, lawyers, and
coordinators, sending out emergency mailings, along with other costs.
Leonard Peltier Awareness Drive:
* Leonard's lawyers emphatically encourage us to create high level
public awareness and support around the Peltier issue - intensive public
pressure is key to succeeding in the courts. As we saw in the past, the
merits of Leonard's case dictated a new trial, but the courts failed to
grant him justice. We must build upon the momentum gained from the clemency
campaign, and see to it that substantial public pressure exists in support
of justice.
* With your participation and support, we plan to launch an intensive
media campaign, which will include outreach to news papers, radio and T.V.,
a new letter to the editor drive, and possibly ads in papers and on radio.
We have broadened our speakers bureau, and we want to send our spokespeople
to key events across the country and world. We will organize educational
forums such as panel discussions, tribunals, and teach-ins. And finally, we
will reach beyond our network for additional supporters through direct mail
campaigns. Financial support is needed to carry out these plans.
The Office of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
* The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee is the center of
communication between Leonard, his advocates and family, as well as the
driving force for his release. We need financial support to continue
operating. During the new campaign, we will be building a broad coalition
of organizations in support of Leonard Peltier, coordinating the awareness
drive, assisting the lawyers, producing our bi-monthly newspaper, sending
out updates and actions, lobbying officials, monitoring Leonard Peltier's
treatment, managing the Kansas office, and much more. We count on donations
to pay our office rent, printing, utilities, staff support, and all other
operating costs. We count on you to keep the movement to free Leonard
Peltier alive.
You can help!
* If you would like to make a contribution, please fill out the form
in the message following this one, and return it to our office. We are
offering special gifts for donations of $25 or greater, including hand made
crafts and art by Leonard Peltier, as well as newly designed "Until Freedom
is Won" T-shirts and sweatshirts. We know donating, especially during this
difficult time, is not easy. However, Leonard has thousands of supporters
and if everyone contributes a little, it will add up and enable us to
coordinate a strong and relentless campaign. Every amount counts. We
deeply appreciate your support and thank you for your continued
participation.
Until Freedom Is Won!
The New Peltier Justice Campaign
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774
www.freepeltier.org