[Nonviolenza] La biblioteca di Zorobabele. 653

[Centro di ricerca per la pace Centro di ricerca per la pace <centropacevt at gmail.com>]

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LA BIBLIOTECA DI ZOROBABELE
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Segnalazioni librarie e letture nonviolente
a cura del "Centro di ricerca per la pace, i diritti umani e la difesa della biosfera" di Viterbo
Supplemento a "La nonviolenza e' in cammino" (anno XXIII)
Direttore responsabile: Peppe Sini. Redazione: strada S. Barbara 9/E, 01100 Viterbo, tel. 0761353532, e-mail: centropacevt at gmail.com
Numero 653 del 9 dicembre 2022

In questo numero:
1. Occorre passare all'azione diretta nonviolenta contro la guerra e tutte le uccisioni
2. Associazione "Respirare" di Viterbo: Condividiamo e sosteniamo l'appello ai parlamentari italiani per la liberazione di Leonard Peltier
3. Amnesty International Group 30: Free Leonard Peltier Social Media Action
4. Austin Erickson: Sen. Tina Smith & six of her colleagues ask Biden to release Leonard Peltier from prison

1. L'ORA. OCCORRE PASSARE ALL'AZIONE DIRETTA NONVIOLENTA CONTTRO LA GUERRA E TUTTE LE UCCISIONI

Salvare le vite e' il primo dovere.
Occorre far cessare tutte le guerre, tutte le stragi, tutte le uccisioni.
Pace, disarmo, smilitarizzazione.
Soccorrere, accogliere, assistere ogni persona bisognosa di aiuto.
Occorre passare all'azione diretta nonviolenta per la salvezza dell'intera famiglia umana e dell'intero mondo vivente.
Solo la nonviolenza puo' salvare l'umanita' e il mondo vivente dalla catastrofe.

2. INIZIATIVE. ASSOCIAZIONE "RESPIRARE" DI VITERBO: CONDIVIDIAMO E SOSTENIAMO L'APPELLO AI PARLAMENTARI ITALIANI PER LA LIBERAZIONE DI LEONARD PELTIER

Condividiamo e sosteniamo l'appello a un impegno a richiedere al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America la concessione della grazia che restituisca la liberta' a Leonard Peltier, da 47 anni detenuto innocente
Ne riproponiamo il testo:
Egregie senatrici, egregi senatori,
Egregie deputate, egregi deputati,
conoscete gia' la vicenda di Leonard Peltier, l'illustre attivista nativo americano difensore dei diritti umani di tutti gli esseri umani e dell'intero mondo vivente, da 47 anni detenuto innocente.
E sapete anche che la sua liberazione nel corso di quasi mezzo secolo e' stata richiesta da personalita' come Nelson Mandela, madre Teresa di Calcutta, Desmond Tutu, Rigoberta Menchu', Shirin Ebadi, papa Francesco, il Dalai Lama ed innumerevoli altre.
Ricorderete anche che il compianto Presidente del Parlamento Europeo, David Sassoli, pochi mesi prima dell'improvvisa scomparsa, aveva promosso un appello per la liberazione di Leonard Peltier. E del resto il Parlamento Europeo gia' negli anni Novanta del secolo scorso aveva ripetutamente richiesto la sua liberazione.
Negli ultimi mesi due nuovi autorevoli inviti sono stati rivolti al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America affinche' conceda la grazia che liberi l'illustre attivista nativo americano: alcuni mesi fa la commissione giuridica ad hoc dell'Onu; e lo scorso settembre con voto unanime il comitato nazionale del Partito Democratico statunitense (il partito politico cui appartiene lo stesso Presidente Biden).
Sarebbe di grande importanza che anche il Parlamento italiano volesse unire la sua voce all'appello promosso da prestigiosissime personalita', innumerevoli associazioni umanitarie (prima fra tutte Amnesty International), istituzioni di tutto il mondo, affinche' il Presidente statunitense conceda la grazia che restituisca la liberta' a un uomo innocente che e' ormai per l'umanita' intera testimone e simbolo della lotta per i diritti umani e dei popoli e per la difesa della Madre Terra.
Per tutto quanto precede siamo quindi a pregarvi di un vostro autorevole impegno a richiedere al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America la concessione della grazia che restituisca la liberta' a Leonard Peltier.
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Invitiamo ogni persona di volonta' buona, ogni movimento di solidarieta', ogni associazione democratica, ogni esperienza della societa' civile ed ogni istituzione impegnata per il bene comune dell'umanita', ad aderire e a diffondere questo appello.
Per contatti diretti con l'"International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee": sito: wwww.whoisleonardpeltier.info, e-mail: contact at whoisleonardpeltier.info, recapiti telefonici: Carol Gokee, International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, 715-209-4453; Jean Roach, International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, 605-415-3127; Kevin Sharp, former Federal District Court Judge & Peltier's lead attorney, 615-434-7001.
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In calce alleghiamo alcuni ulteriori materiali informativi:
1. L'appello del Presidente del Parlamento Europeo David Sassoli del 2021
2. La risoluzione del Parlamento Europeo del 1999
3. Un estratto dal documento dell'Onu del 2022 che chiede la liberazione di Leonard Peltier
4. La risoluzione approvata all'unanimita' dal Comitato Nazionale del Partito Democratico degli Stati Uniti d'America l'8 settembre 2022
5. La lettera del 29 novembre 2022 di sette senatori statunitensi al Presidente Biden per la grazia a Leonard Peltier
6. La lettera del primo dicembre 2022 di 216 artisti e operatori del mondo dello spettacolo al Presidente Biden per la grazia a Leonard Peltier
7. Una proposta di lettera da inviare al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America
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Ringraziandovi fin d'ora per l'attenzione, vogliate gradire cordiali saluti,
L'associazione "Respirare" di Viterbo
Viterbo, 7 dicembre 2022
L'associazione e' stata promossa nel 2009 a Viterbo da associazioni e movimenti ecopacifisti e nonviolenti, per il diritto alla salute e la difesa dell'ambiente.
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Allegato 1. L'appello del Presidente del Parlamento Europeo David Sassoli del 2021
Il Presidente Sassoli il 23 agosto 2021 ha espresso pubblicamente - con una conferenza stampa, un video e un tweet - la richiesta al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America di concedere la grazia a Leonard Peltier.
Nel suo tweet del 23 agosto 2021 il Presidente Sassoli scrisse, in italiano e in inglese:
"Inviero' una lettera alle autorita' statunitensi chiedendo clemenza per Leonard Peltier, attivista per i diritti umani dell'American Indian Movement, in carcere da 45 anni.
Spero che le autorita' accolgano il mio invito. I diritti umani vanno difesi sempre, ovunque".
"I will send a letter to the US authorities asking for clemency for Leonard Peltier. A human rights activist of the American Indian Movement, he has been imprisoned for 45 years.
I hope the authorities will take up my invitation. Human rights must be defended always, everywhere".
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Allegato 2. La risoluzione del Parlamento Europeo del 1999
Risoluzione del Parlamento Europeo dell'11 febbraio 1999 (pubblicata sulla Gazzetta ufficiale n. C 150 del 28/05/1999 pag. 0384, B4-0169, 0175, 0179 e 0199/99):
"Risoluzione sul caso di Leonard Peltier
Il Parlamento europeo,
- vista la sua risoluzione del 15 dicembre 1994 sulla grazia per Leonard Peltier (GU C 18 del 23.1.1995, pag. 183),
A. considerando il ruolo svolto da Leonard Peltier nella difesa dei diritti dei popoli indigeni,
B. considerando che Leonard Peltier e' stato condannato nel 1977 a due ergastoli dopo essere stato estradato dal Canada, benche' non vi fosse alcuna prova della sua colpevolezza,
C. considerando che Amnesty International ha ripetutamente espresso le proprie preoccupazioni circa l'equita' del processo che ha condotto alla condanna di Leonard Peltier,
D. considerando che il governo degli Stati Uniti ha ormai ammesso che gli affidavit utilizzati per arrestare e estradare Leonard Peltier dal Canada erano falsi e che il Pubblico ministero statunitense Lynn Crooks ha affermato che il governo degli Stati Uniti non aveva alcuna prova di chi aveva ucciso gli agenti,
E. considerando che dopo 23 anni trascorsi nei penitenziari federali, le condizioni di salute di Leonard Peltier si sono seriamente aggravate e che secondo il giudizio di specialisti la sua vita potrebbe essere in pericolo se non ricevera' adeguate cure mediche,
F. considerando che le autorita' penitenziarie continuano a negargli adeguate cure mediche in violazione del diritto umanitario internazionale e i suoi diritti costituzionali,
G. rilevando che Leonard Peltier ha esaurito tutte le possibilita' di appello concessegli dal diritto statunitense,
1. insiste ancora una volta affinche' venga concessa a Leonard Peltier la grazia presidenziale;
2. insiste affinche' Leonard Peltier sia trasferito in una clinica dove possa ricevere le cure mediche del caso;
3. ribadisce la sua richiesta di un'indagine sulle irregolarita' giudiziarie che hanno portato alla reclusione di Leonard Peltier;
4. incarica la sua delegazione per le relazioni con gli Stati Uniti di sollevare il caso di Leonard Peltier iscrivendolo all'ordine del giorno del prossimo incontro con i parlamentari americani;
5. incarica il suo Presidente di trasmettere la presente risoluzione al Consiglio, alla Commissione, al Congresso statunitense e al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America".
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Allegato 3. Un estratto dal documento dell'Onu del 2022 che chiede la liberazione di Leonard Peltier
Human Rights Council
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its ninety-third session, 30 March–8 April 2022
Opinion No. 7/2022 concerning Leonard Peltier (United States of America)
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1. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was established in resolution 1991/42 of the Commission on Human Rights. In its resolution 1997/50, the Commission extended and clarified the mandate of the Working Group. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/251 and Human Rights Council decision 1/102, the Council assumed the mandate of the Commission. The Council most recently extended the mandate of the Working Group for a three-year period in its resolution 42/22.
2. In accordance with its methods of work (1), on 10 December 2021 the Working Group transmitted to the Government of the United States of America a communication concerning Leonard Peltier. The Government replied to the communication on 11 February 2022. The State is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
3. The Working Group regards deprivation of liberty as arbitrary in the following cases:
(a) When it is clearly impossible to invoke any legal basis justifying the deprivation of liberty (as when a person is kept in detention after the completion of his or her sentence or despite an amnesty law applicable to him or her) (category I);
(b) When the deprivation of liberty results from the exercise of the rights or freedoms guaranteed by articles 7, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, insofar as States parties are concerned, by articles 12, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26 and 27 of the Covenant (category II);
(c) When the total or partial non-observance of the international norms relating to the right to a fair trial, established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the relevant international instruments accepted by the States concerned, is of such gravity as to give the deprivation of liberty an arbitrary character (category III);
(d) When asylum seekers, immigrants or refugees are subjected to prolonged administrative custody without the possibility of administrative or judicial review or remedy (category IV);
(e) When the deprivation of liberty constitutes a violation of international law on the grounds of discrimination based on birth, national, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, economic condition, political or other opinion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status, that aims towards or can result in ignoring the equality of human beings (category V).
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(...)
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Disposition
101. In the light of the foregoing, the Working Group renders the following opinion:
The deprivation of liberty of Leonard Peltier, being in contravention of articles 2, 7 and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 2 (1), 9 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary and falls within categories III and V.
102. The Working Group requests the Government of the United States to take the steps necessary to remedy the situation of Mr. Peltier without delay and bring it into conformity with the relevant international norms, including those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
103. The Working Group considers that, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, including the risk to Mr. Peltier's health, the appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Peltier immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law (48). In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat that it poses in places of detention, the Working Group calls upon the Government to take urgent action to ensure the immediate release of Mr. Peltier.
104. The Working Group urges the Government to ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary detention of Mr. Peltier and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights.
105. In accordance with paragraph 33 (a) of its methods of work, the Working Group refers the present case to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, for appropriate action.
106. The Working Group requests the Government to disseminate the present opinion through all available means and as widely as possible.
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Follow-up procedure
107. In accordance with paragraph 20 of its methods of work, the Working Group requests the source and the Government to provide it with information on action taken in follow-up to the recommendations made in the present opinion, including:
(a) Whether Mr. Peltier been released and, if so, on what date;
(b) Whether compensation or other reparations have been made to Mr. Peltier;
(c) Whether an investigation has been conducted into the violation of Mr. Peltier's rights and, if so, the outcome of the investigation;
(d) Whether any legislative amendments or changes in practice have been made to harmonize the laws and practices of the United States with its international obligations in line with the present opinion;
(e) Whether any other action has been taken to implement the present opinion.
108. The Government is invited to inform the Working Group of any difficulties it may have encountered in implementing the recommendations made in the present opinion and whether further technical assistance is required, for example through a visit by the Working Group.
109. The Working Group requests the source and the Government to provide the abovementioned information within six months of the date of transmission of the present opinion. However, the Working Group reserves the right to take its own action in follow-up to the opinion if new concerns in relation to the case are brought to its attention. Such action would enable the Working Group to inform the Human Rights Council of progress made in implementing its recommendations, as well as any failure to take action.
110. The Working Group recalls that the Human Rights Council has encouraged all States to cooperate with the Working Group and has requested them to take account of its views and, where necessary, to take appropriate steps to remedy the situation of persons arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, and to inform the Working Group of the steps they have taken (49).
[Adopted on 30 March 2022]
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Allegato 4. La risoluzione approvata all'unanimita' dal Comitato Nazionale del Partito Democratico degli Stati Uniti d'America l'8 settembre 2022
The following Resolution will be considered by the Resolutions Committee at its meeting on September 8, 2022.
Submitted by:
Ruth Buffalo/ND
Patrick Hart/Chair/ND
Kari Breker/Vice Chair/ND
Adam Goldwyn/ND
Clara Pratte/AZ
Resolution to Consider an Award of Executive Clemency for Leonard Peltier
WHEREAS, Democrats have sought to use clemency powers to secure the release of those serving unduly long or unjust prison sentences; and
WHEREAS, the Obama administration commuted the sentences of more than 1,700 people serving unjust sentences after a thorough review of their individual cases and the Biden administration has so far used clemency powers for more than 75 individuals serving unjust sentences as part of a broader strategy to make the criminal justice system more fair; and
WHEREAS, the Biden administration, under the direction of Secretary Deb Haaland, is leading a historic investigation into the lasting social impacts - such as, historical and intergenerational trauma - of the federal Indian boarding school system that separated Mr. Peltier from his family at a young age; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Peltier is 77 years old, and has served more than 45 years in federal prison - at least five years solitary confinement - in numerous prisons across the United States; and
WHEREAS, Leonard Peltier is Native American, elderly and suffers from severe health conditions, including diabetes and a lethal abdominal aortic aneurysm; life ending if ruptured; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a national response to the COVID-19 pandemic authorizing the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to release elderly inmates and those with underlying health conditions from federal prisons; Mr. Peltier is imprisoned at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Florida and qualifies for early release under BOP guidelines; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Peltier was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in 1977 for the murders of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents Ronald Williams and Jack Coler, killed on June 26, 1975, during a confrontation with members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation; Joseph Stuntz, a 23-year-old member of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, was also killed that day, and his death was never investigated; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Peltier was extradited from Canada based on false statements of an alleged eye witness who later retracted her testimony; and
WHEREAS, many evidentiary and procedural irregularities arose during Mr. Peltier's prosecution, such as alleged key eyewitness to the shootings later retracting testimony disclosing threats against the eyewitness and family by the FBI; and
WHEREAS, a 1980 Freedom of Information Act ruling revealed to Mr. Peltier's lawyers the prosecution withheld evidence that might have impacted Mr. Peltier's case; and
WHEREAS, although legal experts have criticized the trial for its failed due process, appeals for presidential consideration of clemency by distinguished Americans and justice organizations have had no success; and
WHEREAS, this further diminishes American Indians' faith in the criminal justice system throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of tribal nations have supported early release and clemency Mr. Peltier's throughout the years, and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, of which Mr. Peltier is a member, has offered housing, elderly support, and reintegration services upon Mr. Peltier's release; and
WHEREAS, petitions for Mr. Peltier's release are widespread and urgent, including those who once were part of the 1977 criminal prosecution and former U.S. Attorney James H. Reynolds, having garnered over 275,000 signatures on a petition requesting President Biden grant Mr. Peltier clemency; and
WHEREAS, Amnesty International, a global human rights organization with over 10 million members, supporters, and activists worldwide, continues the call for Mr. Peltier's release to this day; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Peltier has overwhelming support from internationally respected champions of human rights, including the late Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Parliament, the Belgian Parliament, the Italian Parliament, the Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rigoberta Menchu, seven Nobel Peace Prize Laureates (including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Shirin Ebadi), Rage Against the Machine, Pete Seeger, Carlos Santana, Harry Belafonte, Gloria Steinem, and Robert Redford, representing but a fraction of those who recognize the injustice imposed upon Mr. Peltier; and
WHEREAS, the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators, tribal nation leaders, and the National Congress of American Indians, within our representative states and beyond, have demanded Mr. Peltier's clemency and release;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the DNC platform states that the President should use clemency powers "to secure the release of those serving unduly long sentences;" and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that given the overwhelming support for clemency, the constitutional due process issues underlying Mr. Peltier's prosecution, his status as an elderly inmate, and that he is an American Indian, who suffer from greater rates of health disparities and severe underlying health conditions, Mr. Peltier is a good candidate to be granted mercy and leniency; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is highly appropriate that consideration of clemency for Mr. Peltier be prioritized and expedited, so that Mr. Peltier can return to his family and live his final years among his people.
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Allegato 5. La lettera del 29 novembre 2022 di sette senatori statunitensi al Presidente Biden per la grazia a Leonard Peltier
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
November 29, 2022
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President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
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Dear President Biden:
We write to request that you grant clemency to Native American rights activist Leonard Peltier by commuting the remainder of his sentence. Mr. Peltier has spent more than half of his life behind bars. Now, at seventy-seven years old, he suffers from numerous health conditions, including a potentially fatal abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Over the past several decades, clemency for Mr. Peltier has received sweeping support from many faith and human rights leaders, including Pope Francis, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Saint Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and Coretta Scott King. Each have articulated the moral imperative of granting Mr. Peltier clemency.
Moreover, mounting evidence of clear misconduct has warranted outcry from the very officials who put Mr. Peltier behind bars. James H. Reynolds, the U.S. Attorney who oversaw Mr. Peltier's prosecution on appeal, stated that "the prosecution and continued incarceration of Mr. Peltier was and is unjust." (1)
The late Judge Gerald Heaney, who presided over Mr. Peltier's 1986 appeal in the Eighth Circuit, also called for the commutation of Mr. Peltier's sentence in a powerful letter that detailed the injustice of Mr. Peltier's trial and proclaimed that "a healing process must begin." (2)
We commend the steps that your administration has taken to right past wrongs of our government's treatment of Native Americans, particularly through Secretary Haaland's leadership and her Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.
Furthermore, your administration has demonstrated a laudable commitment to upholding the core American values of liberty and justice, and rectifying inequities in the criminal justice system.
Consistent with these actions, we urge you to grant clemency to Mr. Peltier by commuting the remainder of his sentence. Mr. Peltier's continued imprisonment defies the promises of justice, and the power to exercise mercy in this case lies solely within your discretion.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Brian Schatz, United States Senator
Patrick Leahy, United States Senator
Elizabeth Warren, United States Senator
Edward J. Markey, United States Senator
Bernard Sanders, United States Senator
Mazie K. Hirono, United States Senator
Tina Smith, United States Senator
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cc: The Honorable Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
cc: Elizabeth G. Oyer, Pardon Attorney, Office of the Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
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Note
1. Jennifer Bendery, "Leonard Peltier Is America's Longest-Serving Political Prisoner. Biden May Be His Last Hope," HuffPost, 12 Nov. 2021, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/leonard-peltier-prison-clemency-biden_n_618049f3e4b059d0bfc19e5c.
2. Letter from Gerald H. Heaney, U.S. Senior Cir. Judge, 8th Cir., to Daniel K. Inouye, Chairman, U.S. Senate Select Comm. on Indian Affairs (Apr. 18, 1991), http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/download/Heaney.pdf.
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Allegato 6. La lettera del primo dicembre 2022 di 216 artisti e operatori del mondo dello spettacolo al Presidente Biden per la grazia a Leonard Peltier
Dear President Biden:
We write to you today in support of Leonard Peltier's petition for executive clemency and urge you to expeditiously commute the remainder of his sentence. We are Indigenous and Indigenous-allied members of the entertainment and fashion industries using our platform to bring your attention to the urgency of Mr. Peltier's petition.
Leonard Peltier is a 78-year-old enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (ND). He has been imprisoned for 47 years, making him the longest-serving political prisoner in the United States. Nothing is more emblematic of the mistreatment of
American Indians and the uneven hand of the criminal justice system than the handling of his case by the federal government. Leonard Peltier has galvanized generations of Indigenous activists and grassroots movements, yet he remains in confinement. But Leonard is not only a symbol of Indigenous pride, he is also our relative. And his homecoming is imperative to our collective healing. Represented in this letter is a legion of Indigenous artists, forming one collective voice, asking yet another President to grant Leonard Peltier his freedom.
Mr. Peltier is elderly and in failing health and we fear he will not ever make it back to his homelands at Turtle Mountain. We also fear you will miss the opportunity to free a man whose continued incarceration represents to Native America the worst of a federal law enforcement system who for decades carried out acts of racism and injustice throughout Indian Country.
Leonard Peltier is serving a sentence for aiding and abetting in a case where his co-defendants were found not guilty on self-defense grounds. For this, he is serving a longer sentence than most principals in murder convictions.
Further, Mr. Peltier's conviction has been widely recognized as the result of a flawed prosecution that included blatant constitutional violations, prosecutorial misconduct, and a juror's early-trial admission of racism against Native Americans. Underscoring this, James Reynolds, the United States Attorney whose office handled the prosecution and appeal of the case, wrote to you on July 9, 2021, in support of clemency for Mr. Peltier, critically admitting his own office's prosecutorial errors and conceding they were unable to prove that Mr. Peltier personally committed any offense on the Pine Ridge Reservation that day.
Mr. Reynolds' letter, referring to all of these factors, included the following statement: "Leonard Peltier's conviction and continued incarceration is a testament to a time and a system of justice that no longer has a place in our society."
Our letter joins those from national and international human rights organizations, leading voices on criminal justice issues, religious leaders, dignitaries from around the world, and numerous current and former members of Congress. Notably, in 1993, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), then the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, endorsed clemency for Mr. Peltier and stated, "As long as the FBI misconduct issues in this case are left unresolved, it will be difficult for Native Americans to trust that the U.S. judicial system will accord them with the same justice it accords to other citizens."
Remarkably, twenty-nine years later, in January of 2022, the current Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) also wrote to you urging the commutation of Mr. Peltier's sentence saying, "I strongly support your administration's work to pursue a fair and constitutionally sound justice system. In keeping with those principles, I urge you to commute Mr. Peltier's sentence."
This is now about justice and an opportunity, with your grant of clemency, to recognize the injustices that have taken place in our tribal communities. We urge you to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier by commuting the remainder of his sentence.
Thank you for your consideration of our urgent request.
Signatories:
1. Dallas Goldtooth - Letter Lead
2. Bird Runningwater - Letter Lead
3. Jana Schmieding - Letter Lead
4. Sierra Teller Ornelas - Letter Lead
5. D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai - Letter Lead
6. Bethany Yellowtail - Letter Lead
7. Jodi Archambault
8. Doane Avery
9. Brian Bahe
10. Shauna Baker
11. Twyla Baker
12. Tanaya Beatty
13. Nanobah Becker
14. Daryl Begay
15. Tiffany Benally
16. Shaz Bennett
17. Lucas Brown Eyes
18. Jeremy Charles
19. Chad Charlie
20. Tazbah Chavez
21. Joey Clift
22. Azie Dungey
23. Kelsey Duvauchelle
24. Siena East
25. Sarah Eagle Heart
26. Crystal Echo Hawk
27. Chris Eyre
28. Anthony Florez
29. Norma Flying Horse
30. Charley Flyte
31. Sydney Freeland
32. Nicholas Galanin
33. Julia Gavin
34. Cara Gee
35. Lily Gladstone
36. Kiowa Gordon
37. Jason Grasl
38. Michael Greyeyes
39. Aurora Guerrero
40. Nicole Harjo
41. Joy Haskell
42. Allison Hicks
43. Kaniehtiio Horn
44. Taietsaron:sere Leclaire
45. Zahn McClarnon
46. Tatanka Means
47. Dr. Jessica Moore Harjo
48. Blake Pickens
49. Tommy Pico
50. Kenny Ramos
51. Darrell Redleaf-Fielder
52. Angela Riley
53. Emma Robbins
54. Sebastian Robertson
55. Althea Sam
56. Moi Santos
57. Shania Skyy
58. Vera Starbard
59. Kholan Studi
60. Brooke Swaney
61. Marilyn Thomas
62. Ruth-Ann Thorn
63. Stacey Thunder
64. Dana Tiger
65. Mark Tilsen
66. Raoul Max Trujillo
67. Dash Turner
68. Edgar Villanueva
69. Loren Waters
70. Daniel Warrior
71. Bobby Wilson
72. Jared Yazzie
73. Allie Redhorse Young
74. Roman Zaragoza
75. Gregory Zaragoza
76. Karim Ahmad
77. Amy Aniobi
78. Rosanna Arquette
79. Katie Arthurs
80. Deidre Backs
81. Stephanie Beatriz
82. Elizabeth Bell
83. Leah Benavides
84. Tawnya Benavides-Bhattacharya
85. Tsipi Ben-Haim
86. Jonathan Berry
87. Donnie Betts
88. Brigid Boyle
89. Guy Branum
90. Patrick Brice
91. Jackson Browne
92. Kristin Burke
93. Corrie Caster
94. Jeff Chang
95. Linda Yvette Chavez
96. Bruce Cockburn
97. Adam Conover
98. Peter Coyote
99. Lauren Craniotes
100. Grace Critchfield
101. L.C. Crowley
102. Lisa E Davis
103. John Densmore
104. Chelsea Devantez
105. Ani DiFranco
106. Kate DiRienzo
107. Steve Earle
108. Katherina Nahid Ebrahimi
109. Camille Eden
110. Daniel Erliz
111. Gabriel Estrada
112. Michael Falbo
113. Diane Farr
114. America Ferrera
115. Nick Forster
116. Melissa Fumero
117. John Fusco
118. Peter Gabriel
119. Joel Garcia
120. Daisey Gardner
121. Wayne Garner
122. Amelie Gillette
123. Rupinder Gill
124. Danis Goulet
125. Jonathan Groff
126. Lisa Hanawalt
127. Emily Heller
128. Marielle Heller
129. Ed Helms
130. Kahara Hodges
131. Karen Horne
132. Eric Ibarra
133. Jessica Jazayeri
134. Barry Jenkins
135. Christina Jimenez
136. Samuel Johns
137. Burrell Jones
138. Gloria Kellett
139. Riley Keough
140. Elena Klaver
141. Kenneth Klonsky
142. Kris Kristofferson
143. Larry Laboe
144. Lorna Lefoux
145. Jesse Leigh
146. Gabe Leidman
147. Christopher Locklear
148. Justin Louiz
149. Marcos Luevanos
150. Alexandria Martin
151. Kelley Mcgregor
152. Rose McIver
153. M’Daya Meliani
154. Elizabeth Méndez Berry
155. Kyle Michael Mendiola
156. Charles Micheaux
157. Ryan Miguel
158. Dustin Milligan
159. Aaron Mirmalek
160. Michael Moore
161. Solange Morales
162. Tom Morello
163. Matthew Murray
164. Nalita Murray
165. Graham Nash
166. Zoe Neugebohr
167. Evangeline Ordaz
168. Anshantia Oso
169. Gil Ozeri
170. Carolina Paiz
171. Adam Parker
172. Eric Parmater
173. Illana Pena
174. Carmen Perez-Jordan
175. Jarrid Poitras
176. Penny Prentice
177. Heather Rae
178. Bonnie Raitt
179. Vanessa Ramos
180. Preston Randolph
181. Dailyn Rodriguez
182. Gladys Rodriguez
183. Shannon Rivers
184. Calixto Robles
185. Oliverio Rodriguez
186. Robby Romero
187. Pacita Rudder
188. Mark Ruffalo
189. Amber Ruffin
190. Morgan Sackett
191. Chitra Sampath
192. Tekenya Sanchez
193. Nico Santos
194. Tanya Saracho
195. Debra Scacco
196. Claire Scanlon
197. Michael Schur
198. Heath Seifert
199. Haley Seppa
200. Nina Shaw
201. Chloe Simpson
202. Mary Sinclair
203. Lauren Smith
204. Andy Spahn
205. Ringo Starr
206. Shelby Stone
207. Lynette Taylor
208. Paul F. Tompkins
209. Andrew Troy
210. Tanya Tucker
211. Steven Van Zandt
212. Lindsey Villareal
213. Andrew Williamson
214. Casey Wilson
215. Hilary Winston
216. Deborah Wolfe
"It poorly serves the cause of justice to allow such a thoroughly discredited conviction to stand and to cause further pain and suffering for Mr. Peltier." - Coretta Scott King (2000).
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Allegato 7. Una proposta di lettera da inviare al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America
Di seguito una proposta di lettera da inviare al Presidente degli Stati Uniti d'America recante la richiesta della grazia presidenziale per Leonard Peltier, e le istruzioni per inviarla attraverso il sito della Casa Bianca.
Nel web aprire la pagina della Casa Bianca attraverso cui inviare lettere: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Compilare quindi gli item successivi:
- alla voce MESSAGE TYPE: scegliere Contact the President
- alla voce PREFIX: scegliere il titolo corrispondente alla propria identita'
- alla voce FIRST NAME: scrivere il proprio nome
- alla voce SECOND NAME: si puo' omettere la compilazione
- alla voce LAST NAME: scrivere il proprio cognome
- alla voce SUFFIX, PRONOUNS: si puo' omettere la compilazione
- alla voce E-MAIL: scrivere il proprio indirizzo e-mail
- alla voce PHONE: scrivere il proprio numero di telefono seguendo lo schema 39xxxxxxxxxx
- alla voce COUNTRY/STATE/REGION: scegliere Italy
- alla voce STREET: scrivere il proprio indirizzo nella sequenza numero civico, via/piazza
- alla voce CITY: scrivere il nome della propria citta' e il relativo codice di avviamento postale
- alla voce WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY? [Cosa vorresti dire?]: copiare e incollare il messaggio seguente:
Mr. President,
Although I reside far from your country, I am aware of the injustice that has persisted for 47 years against Leonard Peltier, who was denied a review of his trial even after exculpatory evidence emerged for the events of June 26, 1975 on the Pine Ridge (SD) reservation where two federal agents and a Native American lost their lives.
I therefore appeal to your supreme authority to pardon this man, now elderly and ill, after nearly half a century of imprisonment.
I thank you in advance for your positive decision, with best regards.
Traduzione italiana del testo che precede:
Signor Presidente,
sebbene io risieda lontano dal Suo Paese, sono consapevole dell'ingiustizia che persiste da 47 anni nei confronti di Leonard Peltier, al quale e' stata negata la revisione del processo anche dopo che sono emerse prove a discarico per gli eventi del 26 giugno 1975 nella riserva di Pine Ridge (South Dakota) in cui persero la vita due agenti federali e un nativo americano.
Mi appello quindi alla Sua suprema autorita' affinche' conceda la grazia a questo uomo, ormai anziano e malato, dopo quasi mezzo secolo di detenzione.
La ringrazio fin d'ora per la Sua decisione positiva, con i migliori saluti.

3. REPETITA IUVANT. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GROUP 30: FREE LEONARD PELTIER SOCIAL MEDIA ACTION
[Dal sito www.aigroup30.org riprendiamo e diffondiamo]

SUMMARY OF THE ISSUE
What's happening: Leonard Peltier is an Anishinabe—Lakota Native American serving two consecutive life sentences.
When arrested, he was a leading member of the American Indian Movement (AIM), an advocacy group and movement concerned with Native American rights. In 1975, during a confrontation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota involving AIM members, two FBI agents were shot dead. Leonard was convicted of their murders, but has always maintained his innocence.
There are serious concerns about the fairness of proceedings leading to his trial and conviction, including coerced and later recanted testimony as well as the prosecution's withholding of evidence that might have assisted Leonard Peltier's defense. In light of these and other concerns, the former US Attorney who supervised the prosecution team post-trial, James Reynolds, has since called for clemency. In a letter he wrote to President Biden on July 9th 2021, he states: "I write today from a position rare for a former prosecutor: to beseech you to commute the sentence of a man who I helped put behind bars... I have realized that the prosecution and continued incarceration of Mr. Peltier was and is unjust."
In 2016 Amnesty International highlighted Leonard's case in its Write for Rights Campaign. Unfortunately, President Obama did not grant Leonard clemency and he will not be eligible for parole until 2024. Leonard's serious and increasing health concerns do not afford him a luxury of time.
He is now 77 years in ailing health with multiple chronic illnesses including diabetes, an abdominal aortic aneurysm and other serious life-threatening illnesses. Prison alone is hazardous for one's health, as an elder surviving in prison for 44+ years, particularly with comorbidities during COVID, his release is an extremely urgent matter.
Imprisoned in Florida, approximately 2,000 miles from his community, it is not only a physical hardship for his loved ones to visit him, it is almost impossible financially. As a result, he remains isolated and in poor and rapidly declining health.
Amnesty International urges the Biden / Harris administration to act in the interest of justice and grant Leonard Peltier clemency—AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION: HERE!
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CALL TO ACTION: VIDEO / PHOTO
We ask all Amnesty International activists to make videos and take photos for this urgent global social media action.
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PHOTO ACTIONS
Take photos with Free Leonard Peltier signs. If no time to make them yourself, print one of these!
Get creative! Write Free Leonard Peltier in the sand on your favorite beach, write it with stones, leaves, twigs, flowers, or people! Ask your local theater to put Free Leonard Peltier on their theater's sign, take photos!
Take photos in front of iconic landmarks, murals, natural sites in your community like national parks, the Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the Capitol building in your city, iconic places around the world like Big Ben, Taj Mahal, or natural landscapes, the beach, your yard or wherever you are in the world!
Ask your local bookstore to put a sign in the window! Paint a painting or a mural. Get in the picture and post on social media! Lean into your creativity and make signs with drawings, or take selfies with Free Leonard signs. Always be very professional and polite in your ask!
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TAKE A VIDEO ACTION
Post your videos and photos on social media! Please upload your short video HERE!
(By submitting you give AIUSA Group 30 permission to use in our advocacy for freeing Leonard).
Solo Video:
1. Write a 30-60 second script on why you think Leonard Peltier must be released.
Introduce yourself and your city/state or country. See messaging guide if you need help with your script and stay on message!
2. Film horizontally with good natural lighting (no filters).
3. Make sure your audio is clear and good quality (no wind, no other noises).
4. Post on your social media platforms, tagging President Joe Biden (@POTUS), Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP), and Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) so that we can amplify your activism!
5. Please also send completed video / photos here as we might use for Amnesty advocacy for Leonard.
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MESSAGING GUIDANCE
Personalized messages in your unique voice are best! Be sure to focus your video on Leonard's release and say why it is important to YOU. See some talking points below to help you get started: It's time to release Leonard Peltier!
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ADAPT ANY OF THE BELOW FOR A SHORT VIDEO:
"Hello President Biden, my name is [FIRST NAME] and I am a human rights defender in [CITY/STATE OR COUNTRY]." I am calling on you to please release native elder, Leonard Peltier. (Please state this at the beginning of your video.)
Leonard Peltier has spent 45 years in Federal prison, often in solitary confinement, for a crime he maintains he did not do.
Leonard Peltier is 77 years old and in rapidly declining health. There are serious concerns that he is not receiving adequate medical treatment—he needs access to medical treatment as soon as possible. As his condition could be fatal.
Amnesty International is calling on President Biden to grant Leonard Peltier clemency before it is too late. He should live his final days on native land.
We must face and change the painful and enduring legacy of racism in the carceral system in the United States. Leonard Peltier's case is a prime example of unfair trials and other injustices that first peoples, and BIPOC people face in a historically racist and biased legal and carceral system.
Peace Prize Laureates, including the late Nelson Mandela and dozens of religious and human rights leaders like Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Coretta Scott King have all called for Leonard Peltier's release.President Biden you have an opportunity to rectify a case that has troubled many people for decades. It is time to release Leonard Peltier! You President Biden are the one who can do it! Please hear the human rights defenders around the world and grant Leonard Peltier clemency.
The time to act is now!
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AMPLIFY ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Elevate these calls to action on your social media channel to keep our ask on their radar.  Please be sure to include @POTUS and @VP (Vice President Kamala Harris)
Please use the hashtags #FreeLeonardPeltier #Clemency #IndigenousRights so folks can follow, retweet and amplify our activism!
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Sample Tweets / Posts
@amnesty calls on @POTUS to grant #NativeAmerican elder Leonard Peltier #CLEMENCY before it is too late. He is in very poor health and should live with his community @JoeBiden @VP @amnestyusa #FreeLeonardPeltier
@POTUS please grant #clemency to #NativeAmerican elder Leonard Peltier. He is 77 in declining health and needs access to medical treatment. He has already served 2 sentences. @VP @amnestyusa @SpeakerPelosi #FreeLeonardPeltier #IndigenousRights
Peace Prize Laureates like @NelsonMandela & religious & #humanrights leaders around the world like the @DalaiLama & @TheDesmondTutu have called for Leonard Peltier's release for 45 + years now @POTUS please grant #CLEMENCY to #FREELEONARDPELTIER while there is still time
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Lobby your Member of Congress
Representative Grijalva and ten other Members of Congress wrote a letter to President Biden, Attorney General Garland, Director Carvajal, and Director Keller to grant Leonard clemency.
Representative Ruth Buffalo (ND) and 23 Native American legislators drafted a similar letter on behalf of Leonard.
Ask your Representative to draft a letter like Rep Grijalva's or Rep Buffalo's. If your Representative signed onto the letter already please thank them! Find your Representative
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Write to Your Local Papers
Write an Op-Ed or a Letter to the Editor

4. DOCUMENTAZIONE. AUSTIN ERICKSON: SEN. TINA SMITH & SIX OF HER COLLEAGUES ASK BIDEN TO RELEASE LEONARD PELTIER FROM PRISON
[Dal sito www.kvrr.com riprendiamo e diffondiamo il seguente articolo del 2 dicembre 2022]

Washington - Seven senators, including Minnesota's Tina Smith, send President Biden a letter requesting commuting the sentence of Native activist Leonard Peltier.
He was convicted of murdering two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in 1975 and his trial was held in Fargo.
"It would really be an awesome feeling to know that we get to know him as a person versus knowing him, for me, has always been through the books. Through the documentaries," Peltier's daughter Kathy said.
Leonard Peltier has been behind bars for 46 years. He's considered a political prisoner by Amnesty International.
The seven Democratic senators asking for his release cite former U.S. Attorney for Iowa James Reynolds, a prosecutor during Peltier's appeal, saying "the prosecution and continued incarceration of Mr. Peltier was and is unjust."
"You've got to look at the ballistic testing. His bullets didn't match. There's been testifying that he... Yeah, he did shoot, but it didn't hit them, the two FBI agents," Kathy Peltier explained.
They also show support from his release from world leaders like Pope Francis, Nelson Mandela and Saint Mother Teresa over the years.
In a statement to KVRR, Smith says "Leonard Peltier dedicated his life to combatting racism and championing civil rights. There is evidence of serious misconduct that led to his unjust conviction and that he was a target of the racism he was working to dismantle. Multiple officials who prosecuted him have since acknowledged the injustices of his trial. He should be granted clemency, and each day he remains in prison is unjust."
"Let's take some action. To me this is just talk right now," Kathy Peltier said.
This action from Capitol Hill has come since the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native to become a cabinet secretary, met with the Peltier family.
Now at age 77, Peltier has numerous health issues. His daughter says he has suffered an Aortic aneurysm, diabetes, a prostate issue that could be cancerous and had a triple bypass. Peltier got COVID in January and his daughter says he hasn't seen a specialist.
She believes, based on these issues and senators being behind her, he should be let out of prison to enjoy what time he has left with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Peltier is up for parole in 2024.

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LA BIBLIOTECA DI ZOROBABELE
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Segnalazioni librarie e letture nonviolente
a cura del "Centro di ricerca per la pace, i diritti umani e la difesa della biosfera" di Viterbo
Supplemento a "La nonviolenza e' in cammino" (anno XXIII)
Direttore responsabile: Peppe Sini. Redazione: strada S. Barbara 9/E, 01100 Viterbo, tel. 0761353532, e-mail: centropacevt at gmail.com
Numero 653 del 9 dicembre 2022
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Informativa sulla privacy
E' possibile consultare l'informativa sulla privacy a questo indirizzo: https://www.peacelink.it/peacelink/informativa-privacy-nonviolenza
Per non ricevere piu' il notiziario e' sufficiente recarsi in questa pagina: https://lists.peacelink.it/sympa/signoff/nonviolenza
Per iscriversi al notiziario l'indirizzo e' https://lists.peacelink.it/sympa/subscribe/nonviolenza
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L'unico indirizzo di posta elettronica utilizzabile per contattare la redazione e' centropacevt at gmail.com