Senator Daniel Inouye, Hawaii, addressed the full Senate on June 27, calling for long overdue freedom for Native American, Leonard Peltier. This historical address came amidst a gathering of people from throughout the world to participate in the International Educational Freedom Forum followed by a Freedom rally conducted at the Capitol building. The rally was followed by a lobbying effort by the Peltier supporters reaching congress in its entirety by days end. These activities, planned and sponsored by the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, efforts to further along the Executive Clemency process already initiated by President Clinton. This historical address came twenty one years to the day after a Select Senate Committee (Church Committee) investigation looking into the misconduct of the FBI, relative to its dealings with regard to the American Indian Movement and its involvement in Indian country, was halted.
Senator Inouye's address, now a part of the permanent Congressional Record, clearly points out the continuance of a grave miscarriage of justice in the Peltier case. The irregularities in the initial trial, subsequent appeals as well as questionable technical means or motivations surrounding the recent denial of parole were paramount. As a former prosecutor, Senator Inouye raised several pointed questions as to the validity of the conviction including, "... at trial, the defense did not request and the prosecution did not produce certain exculpatory ballistics evidence which may have well effected a different outcome in the jury's verdict." He cited that the Government knowingly submitted falsified affidavits to Canada to secure the extradition of Leonard Peltier. The Senator indicated that while Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, (eight years), the committee had "received literally thousands of letters a week from citizens of almost every country on this globe,calling for the United States to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding Mr. Peltier's conviction and subsequent incarceration, and urging clemency." Additional Congressional support included Representative Bill Richardson, New Mexico, who's statement offered, " ...I do believe that the way in which the federal government conducted its investigation and prosecution of Mr. Peltier was wrong and inconsistent with the standards of due process afforded individuals under our Constitution."
The Honorable Warren Allmand, standing Chair on Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, Member of the Canadian Parliament, participated in the Freedom Forum and conducted several meetings with members of the United States Congress and Justice Department. Radio interview links were conducted directly from the Capitol building with countries such as Italy (previously had nominated Peltier for the Nobel Peace Prize) to inform concerned citizens of the progress of the events. From Washington to Rome and around the globe, the people of the world are very concerned with this human rights issue.
We ask current members of Congress, diplomats, governments, nations and citizens around the world to join your colleagues in the call for justice. Please add your support to this important issue, for when the rights of one citizen are denied, all of us are threatened. Please write/contact President Clinton in support of Executive Clemency for Leonard Peltier.
Please do the same with The U.S. Pardon Attorney and Attorney General.
Please support a Congressional investigation into the Peltier case and support the release of over 6,000 pages of documents still being withheld by the FBI.
Michael A.Eckhardt
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee/LPSG
2246 Canterbury Road
Columbus, Ohio 43221
Ph/Fax (614) 488-6411
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
Box 583
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Ph (913) 842-5774, Fax (913) 842-5796
You can access Senator Inouye's address on the World Wide Web at the Superintendent of Documents Home Page/GPO Access at:
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