----- Original Message -----

From: "NPPA" <

To: "LPDC" <

Sent: Friday, November 23, 2001 7:35 PM

Subject: Reply to Ms. Peebles...LPDC

Dear Ms Peebles: First, thank you for the very sincere note.
I'd like to take the opportunity to respond to your specific questions and
concerns (please see below), and I do understand how the spirit works,
urging understanding. That's why, recently, after considerable additional
research, personal contact with people who were there, and reflection, the
statements made concerning the Reign of Terror at Pine Ridge were changed to
better reflect that period. In a very real sense, just as Leonard is your
brother in spirit, Jack Coler and Ron Williams, though we never met, are my
brothers as well. I think about them often.
I have heard Ron ask; "Ed, we were both so badly wounded. I knew Jack was
dying and I tried to save him. But why didn't they let us surrender?
I have been answering that question for him.
We can certainly agree to disagree about the conclusions that can be reached
concerning what happened that fateful day at Jumping Bull. That event is
seen here as an isolated violent criminal act, but that doesn't preclude
those who believe in Peltier's guilt from understanding the horrible
historic treatment of First Americans.
It is critically important for those of us who are engaged in the Peltier
debate to ensure that our conclusions are based on accurate information and
verifiable facts. I would like to offer the following; if there have been
statements made by the NPPA that are factually incorrect, misquoted, or
taken out of their original context, please point them out. And, if they
are incorrect, I can assure you they will be corrected.
Very soon I will be making a specific request of the LPDC. I hope
you respond.
Be Well.
"In The Sprit of Coler and Williams"
Ed Woods
NPPA
In response to your specific concerns:
-Yes, I have read all the trial transcripts.
-Regarding Lynn Crooks's statement: I haven't seen it phrased quite that
way, regarding the-evidence: unfortunately your quote is not correct.

-Concerning Leonard just "being there." It goes far beyond him just being
there. Please don't forget that he admitted shooting at the agents and for
many years blamed someone else, then recanted, even said that he did it
himself, then recanted, and also
tried to make a case that it was a pre-planned Para-military assault on Pine
Ridge:
-The nearest agent was fifteen miles away when the shooting first started.

-Cowboy boots; What happened on the Schwarting ranch and the home of Teddy
Pourier was far more significant than the theft of a pair of old cowboy
boots.
-As for the former President: I have my own very strong opinions and they
probably reflect what the late Barbara Olson wrote. But the LPDC seriously
courted Bill Clinton, and he let them down as well.
-FOIPA Documents: Actually, 13,799 pages had been previously turned over,
and 6,589 (...not 12,000...) remain relating to Peltier's shootout with an
Oregon State Trooper and his fugitive status:

But, I have stated this to many Peltier supporters; I am convinced that
nothing of substance remains in those documents and they should be released
to remove the last remaining issue concerning his conviction.
----- Original Message -----
From: "LPDC" <
To: <
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 7:21 AM
Subject: Re: PELTIER: CLEMENCY REVISITED?
Please don't speak for the "spirit" of Coler and Williams. Our spirits are
here to learn about working together as one mind in unity. Hopefully, the
spirit of these two are urging your understanding of circular thought as
compared to linear--birth to death. In traditional Native thought, we go
from birth to rebirth--infact, isn't that the lesson of Jesus Christ with
Easter when he rose again? Pre-reservation life, we didn't take a death for
a death, only the Creator can make that judgment. But justice came at the
removal of honor from you and your family. Such embarrassments travel
through history by way of the storytellers, embarrassing families for
generations. We had no crime. Have you read the trial transcripts? Is
this white justice? U.S. Prosecutor, Lynn Crooks says, "We have no evidence
to connect Leonard Peltier with the shootings". But simply based on his
being there he gets two consecutive life terms? How does that work. How
about the other 40 individuals on site that day? What about the backup team
behind Coler and Williams? What kind of support was that? Obviously I
wouldn't want them back me up to cross the street. And why, if they were
simply going after someone who stole a pair of cowboy boots, would they need
a SWAT team backup? What about the remaining 12000 FBI documents? If theywere clean, why are they so afraid to release the truth? Please. And hiding behind Mr. Clinton's dirty skirts. Read the new book out by Barbara Olson on the last days of Mr. Clinton. Ms. Olson died on Sept. 11th, she was a conservative who gives an eye-opening examination of the Clintons and why they operated in such disrespectful fashion. He or Hilary, are hardly banners of truth, justice or respect.
Best wishes,
Debra Peebles
----- Original Message -----
From: <
To: <
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2001 7:39 PM
Subject: PELTIER: CLEMENCY REVISITED?
A message from the NPPA:
On November 7, 2001 former President Bill Clinton addressed students at
Washington's Georgetown University and reflected on America's history with
Native Americans.
The former President said: "This country once looked the other way when a
significant number of Native Americans were dispossessed and killed to get
their land or their mineral rights or because they were thought of as less
than fully human."
There is no reason to doubt Mr. Clinton's sincerity on this matter given
his long-standing support for all minorities throughout his political life.
But an important question to ask is; If Mr. Clinton feels this strongly,
then why did he fail to grant Leonard Peltier clemency?
There was much speculation as to why not Peltier, especially in view of
the lengthy list of those he did pardon in the late hours of his presidency
since at least a few of those were arguably controversial. It is clear both
historically and legally that the power to pardon lies with one person, is
absolute, beyond review, and irrevocable.
On December 15, 2000 in the heated days prior to Mr. Clinton's departure
and the accelerated efforts by the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (LPDC)
to pull out all the stops to influence the President, the LPDC's principle
spokesperson, Jennifer Harbury, appeared on Good Morning America. Ms.
Harbury, in predictable and classic LPDC style, repeated Peltier folklore
and mischaracterized the events of that day by stating, "It is very
disturbing in any democracy for armed police forces to march through the
capitol." This while news footage showed dignified men and women in
business attire walking in a quite procession honoring two of their fallen
comrades. After losing that battle, Ms. Harbury suggested that President
Clinton did not grant Peltier clemency because he was intimidated by this
activity.
In January, 2001 that premise was, and remains, absurd. If Ms. Harbury
and the LPDC were paying even the slightest attention to the eight years of
the Clinton Presidency it should have been painfully obvious that Bill
Clinton was not the type to yield to pressure or bullying from any sector.
He simply, and always, did whatever he wanted. He was not a person who
cowered; that facet of his personality surely must be obvious to everyone.
So the answer to the question is that Mr. Clinton denied Peltier clemency
because he was made aware of the facts and the legal history of this case,
from both sides of the issue, and believed that Peltier should remain in
prison.
"In the Spirit of Coler and Williams"
Regards,
Ed Woods
No Parole Peltier Association