Throughout the history of the justice system of the United States there have been times when, because of social-political- economic reasons justice has been denied. The case of Leonard Peltier is becoming one of the worst examples of justice being overruled by special interest groups. No matter what the final outcome maybe, the case of Leonard Peltier will live infamy, as a case where the Constitutional rights, justice and common decency were completely abandoned.
On June 26, 1975, at the Jumping Bull's compound on the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation, two unmarked cars following a red pick-up truck came into the compound in which an encampment of the American Indian Movement (AIM) was located. A firefight took place between in which one native warrior, Joseph Stuntz, and two FBI agents died. The AIM encampment had been set up on the request of Oglala traditional Elders because Pine Ridge was under a state of terror brought about by a death squad call the GOON Squad. In just over two years 60 murders had taken place, homes had been shot up and many people assaulted. Those two unmarked cars came into the encampment in the same manner as many drive-by shootings had taken place. In no way did these FBI agents follow even the most fundamental police procedures. The AIM members believing that they were under another murderous attack defended themselves.
There were reasons behind the actions by the FBI on Pine Ridge. First, uranium was found in the Sheep Mountain area of Pine Ridge. It was well known that the Oglala Lakota People would not approve the U.S. government taking even more of their land. Thus, a diversion had to be created. At the same time as the shoot out happen, in Washington D.C. the illegal signing away of that land was taking place. Second, the FBI had a program to suppress AIM because they feared that AIM was awakening Native People to stand up for their rights.
There were two trials that came about as a result of the shoot-out. The first trial two AIM members were found not guilty for the reason of self-defense. Leonard was not a part of that trial because he was being extradited from Canada based upon false statements that the U.S. Government had submitted to Canada. Because the first AIM members had been not convicted, the government set out to rig Leonard's trial. First they moved to trial to a judge that would side with the government's case, then witnesses were forced under intimation to testify falsely against Leonard, evidence was falsely fabricated, and an atmosphere in the courtroom was created to prejudice the jury against Leonard. Because of those blatant acts of unjustice Leonard was found guilty.
Through the years Leonard's defense team has disproved the government's case against Leonard to the point that the U.S. Prosecutor now admits that there is no evidence connecting Leonard to the deaths of the FBI agents, and that if Leonard were tried today no jury would convict him. The government now only claims that because Leonard was there that day he is guilty of aiding and abetting, but since the first two AIM members were found not guilty for the reason of self-defense, then that means Leonard has been in prison all these years for aiding and abetting an act of self-defense. The courts have refused to grant Leonard a new and fair and the Parole Commission has refused to grant him parole. The reason seems to be that the government believes that someone must pay. But the blame for what happened on that day in 1975, is not with AIM or Leonard, but with the FBI who knowingly sent those two agents into a situation that caused their deaths.
Northwest Leonard Peltier Support Network
Box 5464
Tacoma, WA 98415-0464
E-mail: arthurmiller50@juno.com
http://members.aol.com/TurquoisWm/JusticeforLeonardPeltier
[posted December 5, 1998]
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