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Source: contact@contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info & the KOLA-network |
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A Statement by Leonard Peltier
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The Indian Voice of Modern Times |
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Solidarity with Mumia Abu-Jamal |
February 13, 2010
Greetings brothers and sisters, and thank you for attending this event to
listen, learn, teach, and organize. I am Leonard Peltier, a proud Lakota and
Anishinabe American Indian activist, organizer, and patriot. I am likewise,
unfortunately, a fellow political prisoner in this 'land of the free.'
I, along with my family, my supporters, and American Indians everywhere, know
full well what the justice system of the United States can mean to the brown
man, the black man, and any man or woman who dares to think or talk truth to
power.
That we have been made targets in our own country should outrage every single
man and woman everywhere, no matter the color, background or political leaning.
That this country continues the barbaric practices of executions should be
opposed by all people of conscience.
Whether or not you approve of capital punishment is irrelevant as long as
minorities are executed with alarming disparities. Whether you approve or not is
of secondary concern when people like Mumia Abu Jamal, myself and many others
are convicted and sentenced to die with evidence that would exonerate most any
white man. As such, every single progressive organization should oppose the
death penalty as we now know it.
This has not been a case of justice or the law, it has been politics, racism,
and control, and we should confront these issues long before we decide who to
execute. As long as we have these inequities in our midst, we will continue to
convict and execute innocents. Execute - let's call it what it really is - state
sanctioned murder! Why does America allow this brand of 'justice' to exist?
That is a question that must haunt the soul of every true American patriot. For
as long as it does, America can never be the bastion of freedom it has claimed
to be, the light in the darkness it wants to be, nor the high ground of morality
it hopes to be.
Pay attention to the names this government uses when it is opposed. The American
government has called other countries 'evil empire' and 'axis of evil.' The rest
of the world hears this and scoffs!
Why? Because they see this country convicting, imprisoning, and executing
innocent minorities and political liabilities while claiming to be a free
society - because they see corporate personhood allowing the rape of the Earth
and desecration of the sacred - because they see this country waging illegal war
while claiming to love peace - and because they see this country propping up
murderous dictators while giving lip service to human rights. The rest of the
world sees all of this and wonders, is not America the real evil empire?
I, like Mumia, have been called a terrorist by my own government. Well, I never
knew a terrorist who advocated the rule of law as we have. Some people need to
find a new dictionary!
There may be other parts of the world which are breeding grounds for terrorism,
but this government makes sure they have fertile ground to harvest. We are not
the terrorists! I love my country. Progressive thinking people love this
country. It is thusly our patriotic duty to respond to such government with
righteous indignation! It is only when we allow a corrupt government to corrupt
our very minds that a patriot becomes a terrorist!
As long as you are willing to work for justice, all political prisoners can
still hope for freedom. Real power starts from the bottom and goes up, not the
other way around. Free Mumia!
In solidarity,
Leonard Peltier