[Ppnews] Leonard Peltier - We are NOT your slaves!

[Political Prisoner News]

Monday, February 6, 2012

http://lpdoc.blogspot.com/2012/02/06-february-anniversary-message-from.html


06 February Anniversary Message from Leonard Peltier

Greetings to my relations, my friends, and to my 
many supporters the world over.

It is that time again. Another year has passed, 
and on February 6th I will be marking 36 years 
since my arrest. During all this time, my family 
and allies have discovered just how far the 
government will go to wrongfully convict and 
imprison someone they know is innocent. They do 
this as a message­first to Indians, and further 
to anyone who might stand up to injustice­as if 
to say, “We will do as we please”.

 From the day of my arrest until now, through you 
my supporters, I have been honored with many 
activist and humanitarian awards. I thank you for 
keeping awareness of me and my case alive. Your 
commitment has really been a special experience for me.

In addition many celebrities, political figures, 
and organizations have called for my release, 
including 55 members of Congress. This last 
November, the National Congress of American 
Indians (NCAI) passed a permanent resolution 
calling for my release. Well let’s hope its not 
that permanent. The NCAI has committed to being 
directly involved with my case so that the 
message from Washington to Indian people does not 
remain, “We will do as we please”.

Still, despite all this attention and with all 
the leaders and people of conscience calling for 
my release, I have been kept in this iron cage. 
They have even kept me longer than their own laws 
say they can. With evidence corroborating that I 
did not receive a fair trial, with proof of 
government misconduct, with admissions by 
government officials that they do not know who 
killed those two agents that day at the Jumping 
Bull property, here I sit. “We will do as we please.”

Recently, as many of you know, an act was passed 
and signed into law that allows for indefinite 
detention of American citizens without charge or 
trial. This is perhaps the final straw, the final 
nail in the coffin of American freedom, the end 
of habeas corpus and due process. “We will do as we please.”

We Indians said it for generations: If they can 
kill us indiscriminately, they will do it to 
anyone. If they can take our land, they will do 
it to anyone. If they can kidnap our children and 
take them to prison schools, they will do it to 
anyone. If they can starve us and lie to us, they 
will do it to anyone. If they can wrongfully 
imprison us, they will do it to anyone. Now, 
sadly, this is another Indian prophecy fulfilled. “We will do as we please.”

Our ancestors and tribal people all over the 
world prophesized a time of upheaval and great 
change. I believe that time is fast approaching. 
I believe a part of this is the government’s 
ongoing overreach of its authority­until the 
people rise up and tell Washington, “You will NOT 
do as you please! We are NOT your slaves! We will 
NOT be subjugated! We will NOT be ruled by an 
iron fist! We will NOT allow you to steal our liberty or our justice!"

My friends, my relatives, my supporters­Be a part 
of this latest, perhaps the last "Indian 
uprising". Make your voice heard! Be a part of 
the brave Movement to come, the Movement that 
will change the course of human history. Make 
change and hope and peace and justice a part of 
your personal legacy. Be the change that you 
envision and know in your heart must take place.

Do this, and on the day you take your last breath 
and prepare to meet Creator, you will know your 
life on this Earth was well spent. Close your 
eyes knowing you used your breath and energy to 
Creator’s good purpose. Smile as you cross over 
knowing you changed the world so that the next 
seven generations can know a good life. Do these 
things and know that I am with you. I will 
embrace you as my relations­in this life or the next.

Mitakuye Oyasin.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,


Leonard Peltier




Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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