Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Free Leonard Peltier

From: freepeltiernow@mail-list.com

* Call to Action *

As you know, 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.

Keep up the pressure on the BOP to transfer Leonard to one of the
three above locations. Send a letter by e-mail or fax by * Friday,
March 20 *.

For details and guidance, see:
< http://www.FreePeltierNow.org/transfer.htm>.

Don't be dissuaded by the BOP's canned response to your letter on
Leonard's behalf. Write back. Reiterate that Mr. Peltier followed
BOP procedures in submitting his request for a transfer. Make note
of the fact that Mr. Peltier has never been in an institution
within 500 miles of his home and tell them this is unacceptable and
doesn't comply with the BOP's guidelines. An appropriate transfer
would take his home reservation into account, as well as his current
security rating. All the way around, Peltier should be transferred
to Turtle Mountain, Sandstone, or Oxford.

Next, write to or call the director of the BOP:

Harley G. Lappin, Director
Bureau of Prisons
320 First St., NW, Room 654
Washington, DC 20534
(202) 307-3250 (office)
(202) 514-6878 (fax)
hlappin@bop.gov

Then, forward all your communications with BOP staff to Attorney
General Eric Holder. Raise all of the same issues with the Attorney
General:

U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
AskDOJ@usdoj.gov (If you use e-mail,
be certain to address your message to the Attorney General)

Last, follow up with a phone call to the Office of the Attorney
General:

(202) 353-1555.

Raise all the same points but also talk about things like
government accountability and ask why the BOP's guidelines don't
appear to apply (and never have applied) to Leonard Peltier. Why in
over 33 years has Leonard Peltier not been held within 500 miles
of home? Why does BOP falsely claim that Peltier hasn't followed
procedure as regards his request for a transfer? Why does BOP
continue to hold Peltier in a maximum security facility when his
current security rating qualifies him for a transfer to a lower
security facility?

We know we're asking a lot. Your active support is greatly
appreciated.

Thank you for all you do on behalf of Mr. Peltier.

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