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Vigils in Toronto, Ottawa, and in other cities in Canada and around the world, on the occasion of Independence Day in the United States of America, to ask President Obama to grant Leonard Peltier his long-awaited release from prison in an executive order of clemency.
Toronto (4 July 2013) - Candles will be lit in a spirit of hope, compassion, human rights and justice for First Nations and all peoples in a historic appeal for President Obama’s humanitarian intervention.
In Toronto, Ottawa, and other cities in Canada and around the world, on the occasion of Independence Day in the United States of America, liberty-minded people from all over the world will be lighting up their candles to ask President Obama to grant Leonard Peltier his long-awaited release from prison in an executive order of clemency.
Nearly 40 years in prison
Leonard’s long and cruel imprisonment is just two years shy of 40 years which he has spent serving out two life sentences in the United States for the 1975 shooting deaths of two FBI agents.
His years behind bars and his deteriorating health have pushed him to the breaking point for a human being’s imprisonment, even more so given that there is no solid evidence that has placed him there in the first place.
World human rights and political bodies, including the United Nations, European Parliament and Canada’s federal NDP party, have honoured Leonard in recognition that his imprisonment is linked directly to his defense of the land, treaty and cultural rights of indigenous peoples.
Leonard remains an iconic symbol; his long and tragic ordeal is being fought to be brought to justice and to a president’s attention by dignitaries the thousands upon thousands of peoples over the past decades.
Requesting that US President release on humanitarian grounds
Today, the world is asking for President Obama to release Leonard on humanitarian grounds so that he can live out his remaining life with his family and community. As a country with a direct interest in this case, Canadians and a long list of Canadian organizations and institutions have long voiced their support for Leonard’s release.
The Candlelight Vigils are part of a series of global events as we approach the end of Obama’s term in office. It is a time when presidents normally act upon requests to grant clemency.
On July 4, vigils are being organized at embassies and consulates. In Canada, candles are being lit in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and internationally (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, and in other countries). There is a growing list of locations where vigils are being held, including Australia, where candles will be lit in four cities.
At the heart is a simple request for all people to write to President Obama to request that he sign an Order of Clemency. One project targeting Obama, is the Letters 4 Leonard project, which is set up to receive thousands of letters, and to formally hand them all to Obama in physical form during his last days in office.
Eighth Amendment: “Cruel and Unusual Punishment”
In his Oath of Office, President Obama swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, including the 8th Amendment Clause, designed to protect people from “cruel and unusual" punishment being meted out in a "wholly arbitrary" fashion.
- "Cruel and unusual" is the only term that can describe Leonard's lengthy incarceration.
- "Wholly arbitrary" is the only way to describe the fact that he remains in prison long after the point when most inmates convicted of similar crimes are paroled.
Several distinguished judges in both Canada and the U.S. are calling for leniency and compassion. For years now, Amnesty International has been calling for Leonard’s immediate and unconditional release.
Urgent need for action
Thirteen years ago, the Canadian Labour Congress, the National Union (NUPGE), and other affiliates partnered with the Leonard Peltier Defence Committee Canada Coalition (LPDCC) and its legal defense in a national campaign for clemency directed to former president Bill Clinton.
It is hoped that institutional and organizational endorsements and the voices of people everywhere will finally convince a Canadian government to send a diplomatic note to President Obama recommending that he grant clemency.
The time has never been more urgent! On September 12, 2013, Leonard, who is in failing health, will turn 70 years old. Housed in the United States Prison in Coleman, Florida, his request for a transfer closer to home was recently denied and is presently being appealed. Leonard is not eligible for parole until July, 2024, and his projected release date is October, 2040 when he reaches the age of 97!
Background
Leonard, an Anishinabe-Lakota, along with other members of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was called to the Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota in 1975 to defend the traditional lands and cultures of his people during a time of intense conflict between traditionalists and government-backed tribal members.
On June 26, 1975, two FBI agents were killed on Pine Ridge. Leonard was one of several suspects. The others were tried outside of South Dakota and let go after it was determined there was not enough evidence to convict them.
After fleeing to Canada, Leonard was arrested on February 6, 1976 and applied for political asylum. He was extradited to South Dakota, where, with no real evidence linking him to the deaths, he was tried and found guilty of the agents' deaths.
The Candlelight Vigils are the brainchild of Lloyd Fournier, an Elder who is the founder of Thunder Bird Rising – Books for Kids, an organization that carries hope and support, literacy, and educational materials to children and youth in Canada’s remote First Nations communities.
More information:
Contact Anne Dreaver of the LPDCC at 416-439-1893 or by email at: lpdccanada@yahoo.ca, or contact Lloyd Fournier at lloyd.fournier.16@facebook.com
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