Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

           June 26th, 1999 will be the twenty-fourth anniversary of the shoot out on the Pine Ridge Reservation which lead up to the illegal incarceration of Leonard Peltier. Leonard Peltier has been in prison now for twenty-three years and as he gets older, prison policies become more and more abusive making the time more difficult for him to do. His health is deteriorating and it is important now more than ever that we pull our forces together in unity and focus all of the support and love that exists for him into a massive collective effort to gain his freedom. The LPDC will be sponsoring the Leonard Peltier Organizing Conference on June 25, 26, and 27 at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas in an effort to make this happen. The goal of the conference is to build a more effective support group network. With all of the people who have agreed to participate in panels, run work shops, and attend the conference putting their heads together to develop concrete strategies to gain freedom for Leonard Peltier, we are bound to develop a strong, successful campaign.

           The conference will open with traditional Lakota, David Chief and Oglala fire fight survivors, Jean Day, Jean Bordeaux Roach, and Edgar Bear Runner welcoming everyone to the conference.

           Panel discussion topics will include presentations on the legal status of Peltier's case, the international campaign to free Peltier, and Prison issues in general. Leonard's lawyers, Eric Seitz, Carl Nadler, Jennifer Harbury, and Ramsey Clark (invited) will be giving the presentation on the legal case which will be followed by a question and answer period. Sylvain Duez-Alesdrini, the European Peltier Support Group coordinator (tentative), Bobby Castillo, international spokesperson for Peltier, Noal Kleinman of Amnesty International (invited), and Lennox Hinds, human rights activist and lawyer for Nelson Mandela (tentative) will be giving the presentation on the status of the international campaign to free Peltier and its importance.

A panel discussion on prison issues will happen in order to sensitize people to what Leonard and other prisoners are going through on a daily basis to create the sense of urgency needed to free Peltier. Ida Robinson, former political prisoner and advocate for prisoners with children, Helen Felix Baca, former Lakota prisoner and Peltier supporter, and Bobby Castillo, former Marion Control Unit prisoner who met Leonard in prison, will be giving this presentation.

           Jennifer Harbury, lawyer and renowned Latin American human rights activist, Ernie Stevens,Jr., president of the National Congress of American Indians, and Keith Jennings, president of the African American Human Rights Foundation, will be leading a workshop on lobbying for Leonard Peltier. They will speak on how to best lobby elected officials, NGO's, and tribal councils.

           There will also be a work shop on grass roots organizing that will be conducted by David Dellinger, co-defendant of the Chicago Eight and life long activist, CT Butler, co-founder of Food Not Bombs, Dr. Michael Yellow Bird, Professor of social welfare and First Nations activist, Debra Peebles, radio broadcaster and Native prisoner advocate, Arthur Miller, North West Leonard Peltier regional support group coordinator, and Dacajeweiah (Splitting the Sky also known as John Hill), ex-Attica Political Prisoner and defender of Gustafen Lake.

Finally, there will be a workshop on strengthening the movement to free all political prisoners which will be lead by Sufiaya Bukari, Jericho spokesperson, Geronimo Ji Jaga, recently released Black Panther political prisoner (invited), Mary Dickinson, Jericho State Coordinator for Mondo we Langa and Ed Poindexter, Pam Africa, Friends and Family of Mumia Abu Jamal and MOVE member, Marcos Vilar, Defense Committee for Puerto Rican political prisoners and prisoners of war, Jamila Levi, companera of freedom fighter, Ray Luc Lavasseur, and Irma Muniz, wife of Raza political prisoner, Ramsey Muniz.

Organizing materials will be prepared and sold at cost at the conference. This will include lobbying packets, the Leonard Peltier Support Group Handbook, a copy of "Incident at Oglala", a bundle of Spirit of Crazy Horse news letters, The FBI files, literature to copy, buttons, bumper stickers, T-shirts, and Leonard Peltier Support Group Banners.

We will also be breaking into specific working groups where people can strategize, dialogue and plan to take responsibility for certain areas of Leonard's campaign. We hope that everyone will leave this conference with renewed inspiration and concrete ways to contribute to the campaign to free Leonard Peltier and all political prisoners.

We are still at the early planning stages of this conference so your suggestions and input are welcome. You can help by organizing fund-raisers. We desperately need money to make this conference a success. You can also help by organizing buses and caravans from your areas to the conference. The more people to share expenses with the better! Haskell has both camping and dorm rooms available. Food will also be provided.

We understand the financial difficulties many may have in coming to the conference and we are trying to make it affordable as possible. Plan to be in Kansas this June and register with the LPDC! Call, write, fax, or email the LPDC to get a registration form, or see the attached form below.

LEONARD PELTIER ORGANIZING CONFERENCE
June 25, 26 and 27, 1999 - Lawrence, Kansas
HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY

Haskell Indian Nations University is
off 23rd Street three blocks east of
Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas
(23rd Street is also Kansas Route 10 which intersects
I-35 and I-435 west of Kansas City, Missouri)

LEONARD PELTIER DEFENSE COMMITTEE
P.O. Box 583 - Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: 785-842-5774 FAX: 785-842-5796
Email: lpdc@idir.net

FRIDAY, JUNE 25
2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Registration at Haskell Cafeteria
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Dinner at Cafeteria and
Welcoming by LPDC staff and Peltier family.
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Opening prayer and Peltier honoring song will be followed by a cultural, historical, and political presentation on the Peltier case and the circumstances that led up to it. This panel discussion will be presented by Oglala survivors, Jean Bordeaux Roach, Jean Day, and Edgar Bear Runner.

SATURDAY, JUNE 26 7:00 Morning ceremony led
by David Chief, Lakota Spiritual Leader
8:00 breakfast
9:00-10:00 Presentation by Legal Team--Eric Seitz, Jennifer Harbury, Carl Nadler, Jim Leonard and Jim Harrington will update us on Leonard’s current legal situation. Seitz is a Criminal lawyer who represented Leonard during his last appeal and is currently handling his medical situation as well as exploring new legal possibilities. Jennifer Harbury is an attorney and renowned human rights activist. She and Jim Harrington will update us on the effort to have the remaining 6000 FOIA documents released as well as a possible complaint with the OAS. Carl Nadler, who has been representing Leonard since the trial will discuss current issues regarding the Federal Parole Board. (Facilitator: Gina Chiala, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee)

10:00-10:30 Questions and Answers for the legal team

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:00 Prison Issues--During this presentation ex-prisoners, Helen Felix Baca, Ben Carnes, Bobby Castillo, and Ida Robinson as well as Native Prisoner Advocate, Deborah Peebles, will talk about some of their experiences in prison and some important current prison issues and relate this to what Leonard is experiencing. Bobby Castillo is an ex Marion Control Unit prisoner who met Leonard in prison and was vital in obtaining the European, Italian, and Belgian Resolutions in support of freedom for Peltier. Helen Felix Baca was in maximum security federal prison for four years and also is an advocate for Leonard. Ben Carnes is a former prisoner, a National Spokesperson for the LPDC, and an advocate for Native prisoners. Ida Robinson was a political prisoner for 10 years and has since become a strong advocate for prisoners with children. Deborah Peebles works with the United Tribes Cultural Group in Leavenworth Penitentiary. (Facilitator: Jaime Gutierrez, Ramsey Muniz Defense Committee)

12:00-1:00 lunch

1:00-2:15 International Campaign--The International Campaign to free Peltier is important. Many human rights atrocities have come to an end because of pressure from the international community. During this presentation Mandela ’s lawyer and human rights activist, Lennox Hinds, European LPSG coordinator, Sylvain Duez-Alesandrini, former South African Political Prisoner, Dennis Brutus, and a representative for Amnesty International will discuss current actions being taken on an international level for Peltier. Possibilities of future international strategies will be explored as well. (Facilitator: Bobby Castillo, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee)

2:15-2:30 Break

2:30-4:00 Panel on Grass Roots Organizing--A proposal for upcoming actions, public outreach and fund raising will be presented. Also discussed will be the history of Non-Violent Civil Disobedience, group decision making, and on-campus organizing. This panel will be presented by First Nations activist and Professor, Michael Yellow Bird, Food Not Bombs co-founder, CT Butler, North West Regional LPSG coordinator, Arthur Miller, and co-defendent of the Chicago 8 and life long activist, David Dellinger. (Facilitator: Patricia Benabe’, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee)

4:00-4:15 break

4:15-5:30 Political Prisoners--How can we continue to strengthen the movement to free all political prisoners? What legal and grass roots actions can be taken on a group level? This panel discussion will be lead by Safiaya Bukari, Jericho spokesperson, Geronimo Ji Jaga, recently released Black Panther Political Prisoner, Pam Africa, Friends and Family of Mumia Abu Jamal and MOVE member, Marcos Vilar, Defense Committee for Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War, Jamila Levi, companera of freedom fighter, Ray Luc Lavasseur, former political prisoner, Bear Lincoln (invited), Andrew Ascherl for Mondo we Langa and Ed Poindexter, and Jaime Gutierrez, National Defense Coordinator for La Raza political prisoner, Ramsey Muniz. (Facilitator: Bobby Castillo, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee)

5:30-6:30 Dinner

6:30-7:30 Political Prisoner Panel continued.

8:00-10:00 Entertainment and open class rooms available for auxilary meetings.

SUNDAY, JUNE 27 7:00 Morning Ceremony led
by David Chief, Lakota Spiritual Leader

8:00 Breakfast

9:00 - 10:30 Lobbying Presentation--This presentation will update us as to what current lobbying efforts are, who is supportive, and how we can help support these efforts. Jennifer Harbury, lawyer and renowned human rights activist, Ernie Stevens, Jr. Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians, and Keith Jennings, president of the African American Human Rights Foundation will be on this panel and they will also talk about the most effective ways to lobby elected officials, tribal governments, and NGOs. (Facilitator:Jean Day, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee)

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:00 Break into Working Groups for Introductions

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30 Begin developing Working Group Strategies:
Topics of working groups will be:
      Future Direct Action/Demonstrations
      Lobbying and Letter Writing
      Fund Raising
      Media/Writing/Speaking and Public Outreach
      On-Campus Organizing
      Legal Research

2:45-4:00 Continue Working Groups-develop concrete strategies.

4:00-5:00 Closing with working group proposals and closing ceremony
by David Chief , Lakota Spiritual Leader

   LEONARD PELTIER ORGANIZING CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

  Name_____________________________________________________

  Phone_________________________email_______________________

  Address___________________________________________________


  CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE PER PERSON
  $25.00


  LODGING 
  Dorm rooms, camping, and hotel rooms are available.  If you would 
  like to reserve a hotel room you can call the LPDC to find out what 
  is available. Camping will cost 5.00 a night and dorm rooms will cost
  15.00 a night. Fill in the blanks below with the appropriate amounts 
  and nights you will need lodging.  

  ____Friday night
  ____Saturday night
  ____Sunday night
  ____Total

  FOOD
  All food will be provided by the Haskell Cafeteria and Food Not Bombs.
  If you choose to have your food provided, the cost will be 5.00 for
  Friday night, 15.00 for  Saturday, and 15.00  for Sunday.  

  ____Friday night
  ____Saturday night
  ____Sunday
  ____Total 

  ORGANIZING KIT
  Organizing kits will be sold at cost during the conference. They
  will include a lobbying packet, a Leonard Peltier organizing hand
  book, one copy of the documentary, "Incident at Oglala," 20 news
  letters, The FBI files, 10 buttons, 10 bumper stickers, and a
  Leonard Peltier Support Group Banner. This will cost 50.00. If you
  will be purchasing a kit let us know so we can order appropriately.  

  ____ I would like to purchase an organizing kit at the conference.
  ____ I would like to pre-pay for an organizing kit, 50.00 included.
  ____ I will not be purchasing a kit. 

  TOTAL COST

  25.00 Registration fee
  _____ lodging
  _____ food
  _____ pre-paid organizing kit
  _____ TOTAL-I have enclosed this amount with my registration form.

  I am most interested in participating in a working group
  that will focus on: 
  ____direct action/demonstrations
  ____lobbying and letter writing  
  ____fund-raising   
  ____media, writing, speaking and public outreach
  ____on-campus organizing
  ____legal research

              Thank you! 

              Make checks and money orders payable to LPDC.
              Send to: P.O. Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044
              You will receive verification of your
              registration for the conference by mail.

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