Peltier denied parole; supporters vow to keep trying
Written by JoKAY DOWELL Native American Times
Peltier's attorney, Eric Seitz, said the parole board did not even have the courtesy of notifying him.
BISMARK, N.D. – In spite of an exemplary record during more than 33 years of incarceration for an offense he has repeatedly denied committing, Chippewa American Indian activist Leonard Peltier has again been denied parole in a closed hearing by the United States Parole Commission, U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley announced Friday.
Leonard Peltier
Leonard Peltier is exactly where he belongs, in federal prison, serving two life sentences," Wrigley said in an AP report.
Peltier, 64, was convicted in 1977 for the killings of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota during a shootout with American Indian Movement members.
Many have called for an investigation into Peltier's trial and conviction. Several lawsuits have been filed on his behalf without success.
Peltier's attorney, Eric Seitz, said the parole board did not even have the courtesy of notifying him, saying that, "Bush Administration holdovers on the U.S. Parole Commission adopted the position of the FBI that anyone who may be implicated in the killings of its agents should never be paroled and should be left to die in prison."
In a statement received by NAT, Seitz said the parole commission informed Peltier that his release on parole would depreciate the seriousness of his offenses and would promote disrespect for the law.
But Seitz responded with outrage that the parole board would continue to keep Peltier in prison, "despite judicial determinations that the unrepentant FBI fabricated evidence and presented perjured testimony in Leonard Peltier's prosecution; despite a jury's acquittal on grounds of self-defense of two co-defendants who were found to have engaged in the same conduct of which Mr. Peltier was convicted; despite Mr. Peltier's exemplary record during his incarceration for more than 33 years and his clearly demonstrated eligibility for parole; despite letters and petitions calling for his release submitted by millions of people in this country and around the world including one of the judges who ruled on his earlier appeals; and despite his advanced age and deteriorating health."
Seitz said at his parole hearing in July, Peltier expressed regret and accepted responsibility for his role in the incident in which the two FBI agents and one Native American activist died.
"Mr. Peltier emphasized that the shootout occurred in circumstances where there literally was a war going on between corrupt tribal leaders supported by the government on the one hand, and Native American traditionalists and young activists on the other. He again denied, as he as always denied, that he intended the deaths of anyone or that he fired the fatal shots that killed the two agents, and he reminded the hearing officer that one of his former co-defendants recently admitted to having fired the fatal shots. Accordingly, it is not true that Leonard Peltier participated in 'the execution style murders of two FBI agents,' as the parole commission asserts and there never has been credible evidence of Mr. Peltier's responsibility for the fatal shots, as the FBI continues to allege. Moreover, given the corrupt practices of the FBI, it is entirely untrue that Leonard Peltier's parole at this juncture will in any way 'depreciate the seriousness' of his conduct and/or 'promote disrespect for the law.' We will continue to seek parole and clemency for Mr. Peltier and to eventually bring this prolonged injustice to a prompt and fair resolution."
Along with Seitz, supporters disagree with Wrigley's statement and vow to remain vigilant in their work for his release.
"While Leonard Peltier remains in jail Arthur H. Bremer shot presidential candidate George Wallace during a campaign stop in Maryland. Bremer recently left prison after serving 35 years," Ben Carnes, a Peltier spokesperson said. "Hinkley, the man who tried to kill President Reagan is now allowed to visit his mother more, get a driver's license and spend more time away from the mental hospital where he lives. Lynnette 'Squeaky' Fromme, a Charles Manson family member who pointed a gun at President Ford was released this month after serving 33 years."
Carnes expressed his outrage further saying, "When presidential assassins can walk free while an innocent man remains imprisoned, is an injustice to the conscience of all people."
In a previous NAT story Peltier's National Spokesperson Wanbli described the events leading to the shootout between the two agents and American Indian Movement members at the Jumping Bull family compound on Pine Ridge, June 26, 1975.
"On June 26, 1975, two FBI agents . . . invaded, basically, the Jumping Bull ranch. A gunfight ensued and at the end of the gunfight, two federal agents were dead and an Indian man, Joe Stuntz, was dead," he said.
Peltier fled to Canada and fought extradition, causing him to arrive back in the U.S. too late to be tried with Bob Robideaux and Dino Butler who were both found innocent on the grounds of self-defense by a federal jury in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Robideaux recently died of cancer. No one was ever tried for the shooting of Stuntz.
Peltier has received support over the years from the likes of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Rigoberta Menchu, the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, the European Parliament, the Belgian Parliament, the Italian Parliament, the Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Rev. Jesse Jackson and several American Indian nations and organizations including the National Congress of American Indians and the Assembly of First Nations.
In 1992, actor Robert Redford produced the Michael Apted film, "Incident at Oglala," described as "persuasive in both its detail and its case against brutal federal policies toward Indians.
Supporters have said former President Clinton promised to free Peltier, but in the end he did not.
Peltier's home reservation, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians affirmed it would take Peltier back into the fold of his home community should he be paroled.
Carnes is asking for the public to raise its voice in support of Peltier's freedom as long as he remains in prison, saying clemency is now an objective.
"We still have the ability to call the White House and demand freedom for Leonard Peltier. Also, everyone has the opportunity to meet with their Congressional rep while they are home on recess back in their home state," he said. "We will begin expressing our outrage to the White House, demanding that President Obama grant clemency for Leonard Peltier. This has to happen and our time is now."
People can call President Obama's comment line at (202) 456-1111 and make the comment, "Grant clemency to Leonard Peltier."
Peltier was denied parole 15 years ago. He will not be eligible for parole again until 2024 when he will be 79 years old.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Gracias GB/01 ~ I am learning how to better flow in my writing, be creative and not always worry about being 'politically correct' in lock-step with any party line. As fate and the forces of nature would have it, Chicanos are in a historically unique position to make a huge impact on the whole situation here now inside the United States, in all the Americas and in turn the whole global situation.
We are in the brain of the Minotaur beast, we are geographically now positioned to influence the course of coming events. We must always keep our faith in the people and their native intelligence. Us pioneers of the early Chicano Movimiento can have a large impact on current social events so long as we reach out to all others based upon our basic common survival needs, have a long-range vision for total liberation and are open to embracing all peoples of all lands as humane beings.
Labels are limiting. Our potential is truly infinite and imagination is always more important that intellectual knowledge. In a real way it is good that we have so many different terms to describe ourselves ~ Chicanos, Mexicanos, Mexican-Americans, La Raza, Latinos, Indios, Native-Americans, indigenous, Brown People, Spanish and whatever other label or term that suits us and feels comfortable to us. We know who we are. We are of all of it and more!
We can use the term La Raza Cosmica in an attempt to be inclusive of all of us. We are actually blessed to have so many terms and labels in reference to us in recognition of our beautiful diversity, including linguistically with many of us being bi-lingual in varying degrees with assorted dialects.
Truth is our greatest spiritual tool, the Word must be expressed and be in harmony with the Action ~ all guided by the Spirit.
I love the whole concept of Network Aztlan, remember Aztlan Network and know it will grow as long as we remain open, rational and receptive to the ideas, analyses and opinions of others who we good hearted, though may at times be mis-guided, including myself!
We can learn nothing if we know everything. We should continue to explore other forms of media: videos, blogs, websites, groups and above all we must remember the primary of praxis, solvent social practice, making the Word come alive via Action!
Education for Liberation! Venceremos Unidos! Peter S. Lopez {aka:Peta} Sacramento, California,Aztlan Yahoo Email: peter.lopez51@yahoo.com Come Together! Join Up! Seize the Time! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkAztlan_News/
From: Bejarano <artxchange@yahoo.com> To: NetworkAztlan_News@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:04:29 AM Subject: Re: [NetworkAztlan_News] Video> Spin~8-24-2009~Online Groups and the Word...~Peta-de-Aztlan~
I raise my hands, thanks you for your video it helped me to validate the word being expressed. For things to be done, and things unknown, and to all considerations that inquires our varied interests in making the group/word and social dialog (Chicano on-line) with the best of them.
Peace,
GB/01
From: PETER S LOPEZ <peter.lopez51@ yahoo.com> To: Net-Aztlan-News Group <NetworkAztlan_ News@yahoogroups .com>; Network-Aztlan- Action Yahoo Group <NetworkAztlan_ Action@yahoogrou ps.com>; H-R-A Group <Humane-Rights- Agenda@yahoogrou ps.com> Cc: Talking-Circle Yahoo-Group <Talking-Circle@ yahoogroups. com>; Activist-List Yahoo-Group <Activist_List@ yahoogroups. com>; Issues-Online Yahoo Group <issuesonline_ worldwide@ yahoogroups. com> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 6:13:52 AM Subject: [NetworkAztlan_ News] Video> Spin~8-24-2009~ Online Groups and the Word...~Peta- de-Aztlan~
The Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago says its ranks now include almost a million Latinos. Many are poor. Many have roots in Mexico. And some lack documents to be living in the United States. The archdiocese's human-service arm, Catholic Charities, says it does all it can for the Latino population. But WBEZ has obtained some Catholic Charities records that raise doubts. We report from our West Side bureau.
Volunteers at a Catholic Charities office in west suburban Cicero pack fresh produce and canned tuna into plastic bags.
ROCOTELLO: Each month we provide food for almost 2,500 individuals.
Dalia Bagdonas Rocotello heads the office.
ROCOTELLO: The majority of people coming through are Latino. I'd say over 80 percent. The demand is just incredible. We've seen our numbers more than double.
The food pantry is one of 160 Catholic Charities programs serving the needy across Cook and Lake counties. The agency says about half its clients are immigrants.
PRESTON: We focus on areas of need.
Guadalupe Preston heads Catholic Charities' Office of Latino Affairs.
PRESTON: We have Latino families that we serve in early childhood, our emergency assistance, our immigration and refugee services, counseling, nutrition programs, homeless assistance. Just you name it, we're there.
But some immigrant advocates and pastors of Latino parishes say Catholic Charities should be doing a lot more. IllinoisState Sen. Martin Sandoval chairs the legislature's Joint Task Force on Immigrants and Refugees.
SANDOVAL: In the last few years, at the height of the growth of the Latino community, Catholic Charities has not stepped up.
The critics point to everything from Spanish-language outreach to senior housing.
AIDE: Can everyone hear? Well, we're not going to cross our legs if we're going to exercise.
MITCHELL: I'm inside a Catholic Charities nursing home on Chicago's Northwest Side. Catholic Charities runs 21 apartment buildings for low-income seniors in Cook and Lake counties. But only this one and one other are in Latino neighborhoods. Even at these, less than half the residents are Latinos.
Guacolda Reyes of the Resurrection Project says that's a shame because Latino seniors need help.
REYES: Overcrowded conditions, substandard housing conditions, renting in a basement apartment for $200, with leaky windows, very cold in the winter.
Reyes says agencies like Catholic Charities should be creating senior housing in Chicago neighborhoods like Pilsen.
REYES: Some of our seniors go and live in other senior buildings that are not located in the community because we don't have one for them here. And they miss the social network--the culture.
Ambi: Crane.
REYES: We're right in front of the construction site. We have all the foundation completed. You can also see...
In Pilsen, Reyes' agency took on the task of building senior housing. She says this 73-unit facility will fill up quickly when it opens next year.
An internal Catholic Charities report indicates Latinos constitute less than 20 percent of the agency's clients. But census data show Latinos make up 28 percent of Cook and Lake county residents living in poverty. And that doesn't include thousands of undocumented Latinos who go uncounted.
Fr. Charles Dahm says Catholic Charities isn't meeting the needs of the Latino clients it has.
DAHM: They walk in the door. They get their service. They walk out the door. And they're lost to you.
Dahm is a long-time pastor of St. Pius V in Pilsen. He says Catholic Charities works parallel to parishes instead of through them.
DAHM: This is not the way the Catholic Church should be operating in the minds of most priests.
Last year Catholic Charities interviewed priests throughout Pilsen and nearby Little Village. A summary of the interviews went to a handful of top Catholic Charities officials under a cover page marked "confidential." Several of the pastors complained that the agency doesn't help enough in these neighborhoods.. One said his parish has turned to Protestant service providers instead.
Fr. Donald Nevins of St. Agnes of Bohemia says Catholic Charities has done a good job building up services in some heavily Latino suburbs, like Cicero and Berwyn. He thinks they should do the same in some Chicago neighborhoods.
NEVINS: Because we have large undocumented populations in Pilsen and Little Village, that's part of the reason, I think, that some of the services aren't here.
A Catholic Charities Latino advisory committee last year called for more Spanish-language translators and more publicity targeted at Hispanics.. The panel also called for Catholic Charities to review all its programs to see if they comply with U.S. Civil Rights Act protections for people who don't speak much English.
Catholic Charities spokeswoman Kristin Ortman insists the agency already works closely with Latino congregations and puts a lot into Spanish-language publicity.
ORTMAN: We've produced materials in Spanish in every medium and will continue to do so. It's an important part of our outreach to produce materials in English and Spanish and in any other language where there's a need to communicate our message. And that's across all programs.
Catholic Charities is one of the Chicago area's largest nonprofit groups. It gets funding from 12 federal agencies.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan says Catholic Charities of Chicago is doing a good job. He visited last month to announce nearly a million dollars in new federal funding for the nonprofit.
DONOVAN: For the critical services that you provide to children, to families, to seniors, to veterans--at a time when organizations have to stretch scarce dollars--we cannot thank you enough for your leadership, your commitment and your compassion.
But if Catholic Charities is reaching out to everyone, it's not evident in the agency's boardroom. The 47 directors include just one Hispanic.
BATTEN: That's an early sign as to whether or not there are real deep connections in a diverse community.
Susan Taylor Batten heads the New York-based Association of Black Foundation Executives. She says focusing on the Chicago area's Latino population would require two things of Catholic Charities off the bat.
BATTEN: An interest and a will to retool and to do the best job it can do with the resources it has. The commitment has to come from the highest level of organizational governance.
Catholic Charities CEO Fr. Michael Boland didn't respond to our requests to interview him for this report. Boland's supervisors at the archdiocese also declined to speak with us.
Martin Sandoval, the state senator, says he hasn't gotten answers either. He says he's been asking Catholic Charities for years to provide numbers on the diversity of its venders and contractors.
SANDOVAL: They have not responded.
Sandoval can't get the data even though he serves on Catholic Charities' board of advisors. Served, that is, until last fall.
SANDOVAL: I seem not to be included any further in participating in their roundtable discussions.
Catholic Charities dropped the senator after he criticized the agency's relations with the Latino community.
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Comments:
catholic watch, OldTown // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 @ 4:37 AM
As a taxpayer, I'm appalled by the fact that this agency gets funding from 12 government agencies! That includes my tax dollars and yours. Yet, Catholic Charities does not seem to be very diverse. Only one member on the board is Latino? How can this be? I would also like to know how much the people in top mgt. make? Senator Sandoval and the rest of the legislature should be asking the tough questions, and he should be getting the answers from this agency!
L, River North // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 @ 4:54 AM
The claim that Catholic Charities publishes Spanish media in a variety of forms is false. They don't even have anything in Spanish on their website. They are the 3rd largest diocese in the nation! It's almost like they don't want Latinos to know about their services. Additionally, I've never heard any announcements on Spanish radio or television. That's how most people get their news and information in Latino communities. How much of their advertising budget goes into this form of media? The only thing I've ever seen published in Spanish is the Mother's Day Appeal at the local parishes. Maybe Catholic Charities only knows how to collect money from its Spanish speakers? Because based on this report, they certainly have not figured out how to "serve" them, despite their claims.
Friend of Catholic Charities, Gold Coast // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 @ 5:21 AM
"Public confidence in nonprofit performance is at risk. Only one in 10 strongly believed that charities are honest and ethical in their use of donated funds." (Summer 2009, Stanford Social Innovation Review, "Ethics and Nonprofits"). In my role as a current and long-time Member of Catholic Charities' Board of Advisors, I have been supportive of its mission by donating substantially to its fundraisers and volunteering my time on the Board. In light of this investigative report, as well as my own first-hand observations, I am immediately withholding any further contributions, and joining the voices of many of my fellow-Board members who have been calling for a change in the leadership at the agency, starting with Fr. Boland and his senior administration. It's time to implement term limits, and prune the old guard. I hope Cardinal George takes action. After all, where does the buck stop?
Ezekiel, South Side // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 @ 6:08 AM
I work for Catholic Charities. (a job's a job) I am very upset about all the recent lay offs and cutbacks made by the agency, due to mismanagement and poor planning. They've cut our tuition reinbursement, cost of living increase, employee recognition Day, and our Martin Luther King Day observance(during work hours). They've even cut our Christmas Party! However, I have noticed that the top execs still have their new cars paid for by the agency, and they are still able to attend "The St. Nicolas Ball." I also know that when the execs travel, they manage to eat at the finest restaurants and stay at 5 star hotels, often taking their spouses...even to Rome! Father Mike Boland even has a luxury suite on the second floor of Catholic Charities headquarters at 721 N. LaSalle. This is apart from his other residence at the Cathedral Rectory. Don't even get me started on his six-figure salary! Meanwhile, the street intervention programs in Back of the Yards have been cut and children are killing each other on the streets. Catholic Charities claims, "We're all about help, and just about everywhere." I would say....except where they're needed.
Truth in Charity, RiverForest // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 @ 7:04 AM
Follow the $$$! The numbers just don't add up. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago might as well be a state-run agency (87% of its annual operating budget comes from government contracts - Annual Report online). The difference is that under the guise of being a "religious" charitable organization, it is able to avoid standard practices of public accountability and scrutiny. State legislators should demand a thorough investigation of Charities. Full disclosure about executive pay, discretionary spending, administrative costs, etc. is a must. For instance, how can Catholic Charities justify spending $50,000 within the past year for a Washington, DC lobbyist (Patty Daley - Mayor Daley's relative), plus an additional two lobbyists in Springfield? Additional oversight will be provided by the Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Unit for apparent violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In November the Council on Accreditation (COA)will determine whether Charities will keep its accreditation as a social service agency; this will have a direct impact on the agency's eligibility to continue receiving tax payer money, either from the City, State of Illinois or the Federal Government. How does Catholic Charities of Chicago substantiate the claim that they served 1.1 million persons last year (1/2 of whom are supposed to be Latinos)? Their last annual white paper parts from the query: "What would Chicago do without Catholic Charities," claiming that it serves 1 in 8 residents of Cook and LakeCounty. Such triumphalism and sense of infalibility has made the agency out of touch with its entrusted constituency. More care seems to be given to thier PR and political machine than to serving the largest growing segment of Chicagoland's population. It's time to pierce the veil of secrecy, self-dealing, and abuse of power at Catholic Charities of Chicago. Where is the "Compassion in Action?"
Catholic Conscience, Winnetka, IL // Tuesday, August 25, 2009 @ 8:05 AM
Shame on Catholic Charities and its Irish mafia for such bigotry and prejudice. Throw the scoundrels out! It is "time for change", with equal reprersentation of minorities. Hopefully, the hierarchy of the archdiocese will act to make ammends.
Originally published August 24, 2009 at 4:51 p.m.., updated August 24, 2009 at 10:25 p.m.
BY JULIAN CAVAZOSJCAVAZOS@VICAD.COM
Andrew Gonzalez returned home to Texas in 1945 after being a sergeant in World War II.
He took the train from Tennessee to Bryan, and hitchhiked to where he knew his mother would be: laboring in the field. He was 24.
"When I saw my mother, she she was picking cotton," said Gonzalez, who is now 88. "She was crying. She was so glad to see me."
Gonzalez then moved to Victoria in the 1950s, used his G.I. Bill to attend Victoria College and made a life for himself at a bodyshop.
Gonzalez' biography is part of the University of Texas at Austin's U.S. Latino and Latina World War II Oral History project, whose goal is to collect the unheard stories of the contributions Latinos and Latinas had in the war.
Nearly 700 interviews and tributes have been collected so far by the project.
Since Aug. 18, The Museum of the Coastal Bend at Victoria College has had a 12-panel exhibition called "Images of Valor: U.S. Latinos and Latinas in World War II," which provides a historical overview of Latinos in the war.
The exhibit is in conjunction with the oral history project.
7 things you didn't know about Latinos in WWII
1. The United States entered World War II in 1941. Of the 12 million who served, between 250,00 and 750,000 were Latinos and Latinas.
2. Between 1940 and 1945, the number of females in the work force increased by 50 percent. Among these women were Latinas, who served on military bases, factories, mines and shipyards.
3. Before WWII, segregation against Latinos was widespread. After the war, Latinos made important inroads in civil rights and education.
4. Some Latinos who served only spoke Spanish, which made it difficult to communicate with others. Hundreds of other Latinos who spoke English and Spanish had the advantage of translating for them, some of whom received jobs as government translators.
5. About 15,000 Mexican citizens enlisted in WWII.
6. The G.I. Bill, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, gave Latinos the opportunity to attend college.
7. Joe Bernal, a WWII sergeant, of San Antonio who was discharged in 1946, went on to serve in the Texas House of Representatives in 1964. He authored several bills that challenged racial segregation, and of another that created The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Source: U.S. Latino & Latina WWII Oral History Project
Leonard Peltier
