WRITE TO SENATOR DASCHLE:
Senator Tom Daschle
2nd and C Sts., NE
SH-509
Washington, DC 20510
 

SAMPLE LETTER TO SENATOR DASCHLE:

To : United States Senator Tom Daschle
United States Senate
Washington D.C.

>From :   NAME, ADDRESS   ( IF NATIVE SPECIFY..OR ANY  AFFILIATION OR TITLE)
 

Dear Senator Daschle,
 

I am writing to express my disappointment and sense of betrayal with regards
to your recent decision to oppose clemency for Mr. Leonard Peltier. Given
your responsibilities as United States Senator of a state with a large
population of Native peoples, many of whom greatly assisted you when you
first ran for office, I expected a more just and reasoned position on this
issue. Evidently I was mistaken.

As you well know, Mr. Peltier has never had the benefit of a fair trial.
There is clear evidence that  vengeful FBI agents coerced witnesses,
utilized false testimonies, and concealed a key ballistics test reflecting
his innocence. Although he was denied a new trial on a technicality, even
the court expressly noted that but for the abuses which occurred, Mr.
Peltier might have been acquitted. Even the United States Attorney admits
that no one knows who fired the fatal shots. Mr. Peltier has now been
imprisoned for twenty five years and is deteriorating health. Despite his
remarkable record of human rights achievements from behind bars, he remains
incarcerated and long overdue for parole. To make matters worse, his
controversial conviction is deeply rooted in the Pine Ridge "Reign of
Terror" of 1973-1976, one of the most grim chapters in recent American civil
rights history. For disturbing information as to FBI misconduct throughout
these years of repression and right wing violence, I would refer you to the
reports of the United States Civil Rights Commission. Surely, as Senator of
South Dakota, you have heard the frightening testimonies of various Lakota
survivors in this regard. If not, you have been remiss in your duties.

This case has long been a great embarrassment to those of us in the United
States who believe in equal rights and due process of the laws for all
citizens. As a leading Democrat in Congress, you should have defended the
basic values of your party and your constituents. In betraying Leonard
Peltier you not only betrayed an individual human being, but the Native
people of your state, as well as all of us who believe in basic civil rights
and justice.

Perhaps you should consider changing parties.
 

Sincerely,